HISTOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THORACOLUMBAR FASCIA IN PATIENTS WITH LUMBOSACRAL DISCOPATHY

Introduction. Thoracolumbar fascia has neural ends in normal positions. It has sensory role and by inhibitory and or excitatory reflexes helps to protect vertebral column. In this research, it has been studied neural ends in thoracolumbar fascia in 42 cases. Our aim was to compare the presence of neural ends in normal individuals and those with lumbosacral discopathy.
 Methods. The samples were taken from one centimeter of midline at the level of L4-L5 vertebrae, since in this region the posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia is thicker. Seven of the cases were normal and 35 were patients with lumbosacral discopathy. The samples were processed and serial sections were prepared. Six hundred and thirty sections from the serial sections were selected and 90 percent of these were stained with H&E and the rest of them were stained with Bielschowsky method. The sections were studied by light microscopy.
 Findings. Unlike the normal individuals, nerve corpuscles were not seen in none of our patients with lumbosacraldiscopathy.UsingBielschowsky,nerveendingswerepresentin normal individuals but they were not visible in patients with discopathy.
 Conclusion. It is concluded that thoracolumbar fascia in patients with discopathy had insufficient neural ends. Loss of these neural ends may be cause of decreasing proprioceptive information to nervous system and can be an initiating factor to damage the bones, ligaments and muscles

Histological Study of Nerve Endings in Ligamentum Flavum in Patients with Discopathy

Background: Ligamentum flavum normally has neural ends so it has sensory role and helps to protect vertebral column against different injuries. The aim of this study was to detect the neural ends in ligamentum flavum in patients with discopathy. Methods: Samples were taken from ligamentum flavum of the patients with discopathy during surgery. One hundred samples were considered. Five hundred sections were obtained and stained with H & E method and were studied under light microscope. Results: Nerve corpuscles were found in none of the sections of the patients. Conclusion: It seems that ligamentum flavum in patients has a loss in the nerve ends that leads to a decrease in proprioceptive information to control nervous system and may injure tissues like cartilage, osseous and fascia. Keywords: Discopathy, Nerve Ends, Ligamentum Flavum