FAMILIAL PREDISPOSITION FOR DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Study Design. This case-control study was undertaken to determine if r elatives of patients who had been admitted for surgery for degenerativ e disc disease-related problems were at increased risk for lower back pain or sciatica. Objectives. To determine if familial factors play a role in placing a person at risk for development of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. Summary of Background Data. It is known t hat smoking and various occupational factors can place a person at ris k for degenerative disc disease problems. It is not known if a familia l predisposition may also exist. Methods. The family members and relat ives of 65 patients who had undergone surgery for lumbar degenerative disc disease were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire and co mpared with a control group of 67 patients who had been admitted to ho spital for non-spine-related orthopedic procedures. The same interview and standardized questionnaire was used for both groups by a single o bserver. Results. In the study group of 65 patients who had undergone surgery for degenerative disc disease, 44.6% were noted to have a posi tive family history, whereas 25.4% of the patients in the control grou p had a positive family history. Eighteen and one-half percent of rela tives in the study group had a history of having spinal surgery, compa red with only 4.5% of the control group. Conclusions. The results indi cate that a familial predisposition to degenerative disc disease can e xist along with other risk factors.