What are the types of lumbar disc herniation? Lumbar disc herniation is one of the common back diseases. In itself, it can be successfully treated by general medication or surgery, but some patients are partially or completely damaged by the fibrous ring due to overwork, so scientific treatment is the guarantee of recovery. So, what are the types of lumbar disc herniation? According to the location, degree and direction of nucleus pulposus protrusion of lumbar disc herniation, the relationship between the degree of degeneration and the nerve root and different imaging examinations, there are a variety of typing methods, and so far there is no uniform standard. There are various types of typing reported, mostly related to the researchers’ study purpose. Some classify lumbar disc herniation into intact, subperiosteal rupture and intradural rupture, some into young and weak, migratory and mature, some into reversible and irreversible, and some into bulging, protruding and isolated. Knowledge of the typing of lumbar disc herniation is crucial to the choice of treatment, especially in non-surgical treatment, the correct application of the typing can improve the therapeutic effect and prevent the occurrence of unintentional injuries. Generally, according to the site and direction of nucleus pulposus prolapse, it can be divided into two major types: 1. Vertebral body type: It refers to the nucleus pulposus protrusion in which the degenerated nucleus pulposus passes through the fibrous annulus below (common) or above (rare), and then passes through the cartilaginous plate in a perpendicular or diagonal direction to enter into the middle of the vertebral body or vertebral body margins. Anterior margin type: the nucleus pulposus penetrates into the vertebral margin (the anterior superior margin of the next vertebral body is the most common), resulting in a triangular bone-block-like change at the margin (clinically, it is easy to misdiagnose it as a fracture of the vertebral margin). Qu Jincheng (1982) found 32 cases (31.3%) among 102 gymnasts. This type is characterized by forward displacement of the nucleus pulposus and protrusion into the vertebral body. ② Inferior intermediate type: the nucleus pulposus passes vertically or nearly vertically upward or downward through the cartilaginous plate into the vertebral body and forms Schmorl’s node-like changes. Autopsy findings accounted for between 15% and 38%. 2. Vertebral canal type (posterior type): This refers to the protrusion of the nucleus pulposus through the annulus fibrosus in the direction of the vertebral canal. If the protruding nucleus pulposus stops in front of the posterior longitudinal ligament, it is called “disc prolapse”; if it passes through the posterior longitudinal ligament and reaches the spinal canal, it is called “disc herniation”. According to the different anatomical locations of the herniated material, it is divided into the following five types: ①Central type: the main manifestation of the cauda equina nerve irritation and compression, accounting for 2% to 4%. ② Paracentral type: clinical symptoms of cauda equina are dominated by cauda equina symptoms, which may be accompanied by radicular irritation symptoms at the same time. The incidence rate is slightly more than that of the central type. (iii) Lateral type: the protrusion is located in the anterior median part of the spinal nerve root, which may be slightly shifted, and the main symptoms are nerve root irritation and compression symptoms, accounting for 80%. Lateral type: the protrusion is located on the lateral side of the spinal nerve, mostly in the form of “prolapse”, which can not only compress the spinal nerve root of the same section (inner and lower), but also move upward to compress the upper section of the nerve root. It accounts for about 2% to 5% of cases. ⑤ Outermost lateral type: the nucleus pulposus moves to the anterior side of the spinal canal, or even enters the spinal canal or the lateral wall of the spinal canal, accounting for about 1% of cases.