Table 3.
Individual trajectories for changes in size of herniations, dural sacs and disc heights shown by numbers and percentages for all time periods
| Structure | Time | Number of disc levels | Decrease | Unchanged | Increase | Fluctuating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumbar disc herniations | Four-year change | 140 | 19 (14 %) |
114 (81 %) |
7 (5 %) |
- |
| Eight-year change | 80 | 14 (17,5 %) |
52 (65 %) |
10 (12,5 %) |
4 (5 %) |
|
| Dural sac | Four-year change | 140 | 25 (18 %) |
110 (78,5 %) |
5 (3,5 %) |
- |
| Eight-year change | 80 | 23 (29 %) |
49 (61 %) |
4 (5 %) |
4 (5 %) |
|
| Disc height | Four-year change | 140 | 10 (7 %) |
127 (91 %) |
3 (2 %) |
- |
| Eight-year change | 80 | 13 (16 %) |
62 (78 %) |
4 (5 %) |
1 (1 %) |
Total measurements of disc levels for each time category included. Missing values for “fluctuating” are due to the use of only one time period