Posterior epidural migration of sequestered lumbar disc fragment causing cauda equina syndrome

Posterior epidural migration of free disc fragments is rare, and posterior migration of the free fragments causing cauda equina syndrome is exceptionally rare. This report describes a 53-year-old man with disc fragment extrusion at the levels of L3-4 and a 54-year-old man with disc fragment extrusion at L5-S1 intervertebral space. The patients responded well to the operative therapy with complete relief of the symptoms. The pathological examination confirmed that the specimen was a degenerated intervertebral disc. Early surgery should be the first choice of therapy in patients with large posteriorly migrated sequestered disc fragments, to prevent severe neurological deficits such as cauda equina and conus medullaris syndromes.     

Tabetic lumbar osteoarthropathy with cauda equina syndrome

Summary The case is described of a 52 year old patient admitted for a cauda equina compression syndrome (flaccid paraplegia of the lower limbs, bilateral lumbar and sciatic pains, urinary incontinence) of rapid onset and due to narrowing of the lumbar canal from tabetic arthropathy. These vertebral manifestations occur in a low percentage of tabetic arthropathies, which are relatively rare, and are not often accompanied by severe neurological disturbances. Decompressive laminectomy afforded rapid and lasting relief.     

Spontaneous thymic cyst hemorrhage causing hemothorax

The case describes a 56-year-old man who had thymic cyst hemorrhage, followed by right hemothorax. There was a high possibility that his accompanying disease, an alteration in hemostasis due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis and hypertension, would induce thymic cyst hemorrhage. Tymic cyst hemorrhage should be included in possible causes of the sudden onset of mediastinal or intrathoracic hemorrhage, in addition to the rupture of aortic aneurysm or malignant mediastinal tumor.     

Chondroblastoma of the lumbar spine with cauda equina syndrome

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentations, radiological features and clinical progress of a rare case of chondroblastoma of the lumbar spine. SETTING: Regional Hospital, Hong Kong, China. METHOD: A 54-year-old male patient presented with low back pain and left sciatica. X-ray and MRI revealed tumour infiltration of the fifth lumbar vertebrae and left paraspinal muscles, which was found to be a chondroblastoma by repeated open biopsies. The tumour was removed surgically by combined anterior and posterior approaches, followed by spinal fusion and instrumentation. RESULTS: The anterior tricortical bone graft was complicated with fracture and nonunion. Surgical re-exploration confirmed local recurrence of tumour macroscopically and histologically. The patient developed symptoms and signs of cauda equina syndrome gradually despite repeated surgery and irradiation. The patient eventually died of complications of local recurrence and neurological deficit at 3 years and 8 months after the first operation. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of chondroblastoma of the lumbar spine. The clinical profile of this patient and the evidence from the literature review suggests that spinal chondroblastoma has a very aggressive behaviour with high recurrence and mortality rate.     

腰椎间盘巨大突出和马尾综合征

本文通过对腰椎间盘突出引起的马尾综合征７６例的临床分析，将本病症分为典型与非典型两种类型。诊断上主要依据病史与理学检查。非典型者比较多见。持久的双侧坐骨神经痛提示有马尾神经损害，鞍区的感觉变化与肛门反射有重要价值．脊髓造影和脊柱ＣＴ扫描检查可明确诊断。马尾综合征一旦确诊，应及早采取手术减压。本组病例在半个月内手术者大多效果满意，急性发病者预后差。持久的下肢麻痛与肛周感觉减退，可作为重要的预测指标。引起本病症的机理尚不清楚。过伸位脊柱损伤、巨大突出物的持久压迫、椎管狭窄与局限性蛛网膜炎的发生均是造成马尾神经损害的重要因素。     

Synovial cysts and the lithotomy position causing cauda equina syndrome

We describe a case of cauda equina syndrome caused by synovial cysts and the lithotomy position. A transurethral resection of the prostate was performed under spinal anesthesia in the lithotomy position. We believe that this is the first case report of facet joint synovial cysts and the lithotomy position causing ischemic neurologic injury to the cauda equina. Other etiologies such as needle trauma, neurotoxicity, hematoma, and abscess were not evident. We believe that positioning the patient in the lithotomy position narrowed the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal in a patient with a coexisting critically stenosed lumbar spinal canal. The resultant mechanical pressure caused an ischemic compression injury to the cauda equina.     

Large central disc herniation causing cauda equina syndrome in an adolescent. A case report

BackgroundCauda equina syndrome is a surgical emergency that requires early diagnosis and prompt intervention. It is a challenging diagnosis with a wide variety of clinical presentations that may delay the diagnosis and result in complications that severely affect the patient’s quality of life.Case reportWe present a case of a 15-years-old child affected with acute cauda equina syndrome (CES) secondary to an acute disc herniation after lifting a heavy object. The patient was treated with decompressive laminectomy and discectomy that resulted in significant neurological improvement.DiscussionEtiologic factors of CES in the pediatric population include tumors, trauma, iatrogenic injuries, spinal dysraphism, constipation and inferior vena cava syndrome. This case is being reported for the rarity of this syndrome in pediatric population especially when the etiological factor is acute disc herniation, which is also rare in this particular population.ConclusionThis report is thought to increase the index of suspicion of CES in this age group especially in the presence of inciting event allowing early diagnosis and better outcomes.     

Chronic posttraumatic lumbar intradural arachnoid cyst with cauda equina compression: case report

An unusual case of a chronic posttraumatic lumbar intradural arachnoid cyst causing compression of the cauda equina is reported. The etiological, pathological, and clinical features are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the importance of a correct interpretation of radiological findings.     

早期手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴马尾神经损伤

目的 探讨腰椎间盘突出症伴马尾神经损伤起病48小时内手术治疗的疗效.方法 明确马尾综合征(CES)的22例患者行急诊经关节突内侧潜行椎板/半椎板切除减压手术且获随访.结果 22例患者(男13例、女9例)的平均年龄为42.5岁(23～68岁),平均随访42个月(24～72个月),均在CES发生48小时内手术.术后6个月,除1例外,其他患者均获得显著的神经功能康复.结论 CES发病48小时内手术,尤其术中高度重视根管的充分彻底减压,有助于CES患者的功能恢复.     

椎间盘源性马尾神经综合征外科治疗的疗效

目的:研究椎间盘源性马尾神经综合征外科治疗的疗效。方法：对28例腰椎间盘突出引起的马尾神经综合征患者的发病因素、病程、临床表现、影像学改变、手术时机的选择与治疗的随访结果进行综合分析。随访时间5－77个月。结果：慢性发病者手术时机与疗效无明显的关系。急性发病者其疗效与手术时机的选择有关，发病1周、2周和4周以上疗效优良率分别为80％、60％和40％。结论：手术是椎间盘源性马尾神经综合征的首选治疗方法，诊断一经确立，应尽快手术。     

Facet joint cysts causing cauda equina compression

Facet joint cysts are commonest at the L4-L5 level and are associated with facet joint degeneration and type III (degenerative) spondylolisthesis. It is extremely rare for facet joint cysts to cause symptomatic cauda equina compression. Three elderly patients presented to us with significant cauda equina compression caused by facet joint cysts. One presented with classic symptoms and signs of a cauda equina syndrome, a second with bilateral lower limb neurologic loss associated with uncontrolled epilepsy, and the third with bilateral leg symptoms as well as an upper limb tremor and fasciculation. The diagnosis was easily made after magnetic resonance scanning in two patients, although in one patient, it was significantly delayed because of his confounding neurologic picture. Lumbar spine surgery (decompression and cyst resection) was successful in resolving symptoms in all three, even though two patients had significant neurologic compromise before surgery. The occurrence of facet joint cysts in older patients can be associated with other degenerative neurologic conditions, and the diagnosis might not be apparent early. We suggest that in older patients who have a mixed picture of central and peripheral neurologic compromise, this diagnosis should be considered and investigation of the whole of the spine, not just the brain and spinal cord, should be undertaken.     

腰椎间盘突出症合并马尾神经综合征的临床研究

目的通常认为腰椎间盘突出症患者如果并发马尾神经综合征,一经诊断应立即手术。即使早期手术,临床中仍发现有部分患者膀胱功能无法恢复,对此类患者膀胱及括约肌功能恢复程度的判断对于手术方案的制定尤为重要。方法对本院148例因患腰椎间盘突出症行手术治疗的患者进行回顾性研究,并对其中4例（2．7％）合并典型马尾神经综合征的患者进行长期随访（5个月-9年,平均6．1年）,随访内容主要包括二便功能及下肢放射性疼痛症状恢复情况。结果下肢放射性疼痛症状恢复较快,二便功能恢复较为缓慢。但经过数年的随访,全部4例患者二便功能基本恢复,生活能够自理,结果较满意。结论腰椎间盘突出症并发马尾神经综合征患者经手术减压后二便功能近期恢复不满意,经长期非手术治疗后能够有较满意的恢复情况。     

腰椎间盘突出症致马尾神经综合征的手术治疗

目的 探讨腰椎间盘突出症所致马尾神经综合征的临床分型、手术时机及手术方式对疗效的影响.方法 对53例腰椎间盘突出症致马尾神经综合征患者行手术治疗,对临床分型、手术时机、手术方式的疗效进行分析.结果 53均获得随访,时间1～7年,平均（29.9±19.2）个月.各临床分型的疗效比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;Ⅰ、Ⅱ型患者48 h内手术与48 h后手术的疗效比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;全椎板切除与椎板间开窗和半椎板切除的疗效比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;椎板间开窗与半椎板切除的疗效比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;术中是否加用内固定的疗效比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）.结论 腰椎间盘突出致马尾神经综合征患者发病48 h内手术疗效好,手术应彻底减压;若术后存在腰椎不稳,建议使用椎间融合内固定.