History and Objectives: In light of high prevalence of the backache due to the discopathy and since the majority of the patients are from active individuals of the society and since patients are referred for different reasons and various anatomical complications and since little information is available about such patients in Kashan, the present research is carried out to determine the epidemiology of the patients with discopathy referred to the Shaheed Beheshti hospital of Kashan in 1992-1994.

Materials and Methods: The present study was carried on the existing data on patient with discopathy diagnosis. Personal records, reason for referral, site of implication and type of treatment were extracted for patient’s files. Statistical analysis was carried out.

Results: One hundred patients (61 males, 39 females) with mean age of 48±14.5 were included in the study. Discopathy was observed in 2 age groups (31-40 and 61-70). Mean age for male patients was lower than the female group (43.7 years for men and 48 for women). Female patients were mostly housewives and carpet weavers (61.6% and 38.4% respectively). Majority of male patients were laborer and with color workers (37.7% and 24.5% respectively). 72 patients and positive SLR, 47 achils reflex, 31 sensory differences and 2 patients with muscular atrophy. Five patients had esphangteric complication. 80% of patients had acute backache and radicular shaki and the rest had nonspecific pain. L4-L5 and L5-S1 were the most prevalent site of pain in females respectively (38.5% and 33.3%) and the prevalence of L4-L5 and L5-S1 among male patients were 55.7% and 36% respectively. Absolute rest and drug therapy were the treatment of choice for most patients.

Conclusion: Discopathy among men are more prevalent than women (Almost 2 fold). L4-L5 and L5-S1 are the most prevalent site of complication. 4th and 6th decade of life is the most frequent age period and blue color and white color workers are most effect. Most backaches patient had acute pain. Further work on the causes and treatment of the illness is required