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Familial Predisposition for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Case‐Control Study

Study Design This case‐control study was undertaken to determine if relatives of patients who had been admitted for surgery for degenerative 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 that smoking and various occupational factors can place a person at risk for degenerative disc disease problems. It is not known if a familial predisposition may also exist. Methods The family members and relatives of 65 patients who had undergone surgery for lumbar degenerative disc disease were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire and compared with a control group of 67 patients who had been admitted to hospital for non‐spine‐related orthopedic procedures. The same interview and standardized questionnaire was used for both groups by a single observer. Results In the study group of 65 patients who had undergone surgery for degenerative disc disease, 44.6% were noted to have a positive family history, whereas 25.4% of the patients in the control group had a positive family history. Eighteen and one‐half percent of relatives in the study group had a history of having spinal surgery, compared with only 4.5% of the control group. Conclusions The results indicate that a familial predisposition to degenerative disc disease can exist along with other risk factors.