Absence of the mutated Trp2 allele but a common polymorphism of the COL9A2 collagen gene is associated with early recurrence after lumbar discectomy in a German population.

Genetic factors seem to play a role in symptomatic lumbar disc disease (LDD). It has been shown previously that a tryptophan mutation of the COL9A2 gene is a major risk factor for LDD in a Finish population. The impact of collagen gene variations on the relapse rate after lumbar discectomy, however, has not been studied so far.