Table 2.

Mode of failure and endplate tear morphology for motion segments that suffered disc failure

Segment (spine-disc)	Growth plate status	Failure pressure (MPa)	Mode of failure	Endplate tear
				Torn endplate	Radial locationa	Circumferential		Vertical location
						Location	Span (mm)	lML	C	rML
3-L56	F	7.1	Diff	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
8-L56	F	11.4	Diff	sup	inner	C → rML	2.9	–	E	E
8-L12	U	10.5	MAb	inf	mid	rML	1.5	–	–	E/V
7-L12	P	9.0	AE	sup	mid	C → rML	4.1	–	E/V	+ E/V
3-L34	P	8.0	AEb	inf	mid	C → rML	2.9	–	E/V	E/V
5-L56	F	7.4	AE	inf	mid	C → rML	2.5	–	E/V	+ A/E
5-L34	F	4.2	AE	inf	mid	lML → rML	5.6	E/V	E/V	E/V
5-L12	P	5.6	AE	inf	mid	lML → rML	5.9	E/V	E/V	+ A/E

F fused, P partially fused, U unfused, Diff diffuse rupture, MA radial mid-axial tear, AE radial annular-endplate tear, sup superior, inf inferior, C central posterior, lML left mediolateral posterior, rML right mediolateral posterior, E within the cartilaginous endplate, E/V between the cartilaginous and vertebral endplates, A/E between the annulus and cartilaginous endplate, + = only fibres inclined in the direction of the applied torque were ruptured

^aAs defined in Fig. 7

^bTransligamentous nuclear extrusion