Spontaneous resolution of a disc protrusion in a military aviator

Newlands JC
Aviat Space Environ Med 1997; 68:334-6

Abstract

The case history of a 38-yr-old military aviator qualified on a range of rotary and fixed wing aircraft is presented. A radiologically evident and clinically debilitating (initially) lumbar disc protrusion was the source of the aviator's temporary grounding from flying duties. A full clinical recovery was made and he returned to flying, eventually to ejection seat aircraft. It is proposed that: 1) wherever possible, initial conservative non-invasive management of back problems is preferable; 2) lumbar disc lesions may sometimes totally spontaneously resolve (retraction or autolysis?), and 3) development and diagnosis of a lumbar disc lesion should not always be an automatic permanent expulsion from rotary wing or ejection seat aircraft.

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Table of Contents for Volume 68, Number 4 of the ASEM journal.