Degenerative disc disease: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and classification

Degenerative-dystrophic disease (DDD) and its complications is the most common condition in spinal neurosurgery. It affects about 80 % of all people over 80 and is the most common cause of disability in the middle-aged population. The main symptoms include mechanical back pain, symptoms of radiculitis and limping, limited mobility, and poor quality of life. Determining the pathophysiology, causes of DDD pain, as well as diagnostic tools and expected changes is paramount to improve patient care and satisfaction. In this paper, we present an overview of DDD pathophysiology, classification, and diagnosis.