Table 1.

Intervertebral disc degeneration and disc herniation

Diseases	Intervertebral disc degeneration	Disc herniation
MeSH term	Intervertebral disc degeneration	Intervertebral disc displacement
OMIM	603932 intervertebral disc disease	603932 intervertebral disc disease
Onset	Slow, progressive	Acute or sub-acute
Etiology	Multifaceted	Nucleus pulposus protrusion
Pathophysiology	Loss of integrity of the disc	Mechanical compression and immune cascades upon affected nerve roots
Region	Lower lumbar spine most frequently	Lower lumbar spine most frequently
Natural history	Progression to herniation	Immune absorption
	Or lost of disc height until fusion	Or progression to sequestration
Classification	MRI grading system	Location based classification
	Histological grading system	Degree of protrusion based classification
Clinical symptoms	Slight to moderate: no symptoms	Local regional pain with sciatica
	Severe: local regional pain without sciatica
Diagnosis	Clinical symptoms and MRI	Clinical symptoms and radiographic images
Treatment	Slight to moderate: observation and physical exercises	Slight to moderate: rest, traction and physical therapy
	Severe: anterior fusion	Severe: posterior discectomy