SPONTANEOUS THORACIC SPINAL-CORD HERNIATION - A CASE-REPORT

Citation
P. Sioutos et al., SPONTANEOUS THORACIC SPINAL-CORD HERNIATION - A CASE-REPORT, Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976), 21(14), 1996, pp. 1710-1713
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Orthopedics,"Clinical Neurology
ISSN journal
03622436
Volume
21
Issue
14
Year of publication
1996
Pages
1710 - 1713
Database
ISI
SICI code
0362-2436(1996)21:14<1710:STSH-A>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
Study Design. This is a case report. Objective. To focus attention on spontaneous spinal cord herniation as a rare cause of myelopathy that can be diagnosed preoperatively and can be corrected surgically. Summa ry of Background Data. A 34-year-old woman presented with spastic para paresis. Magnetic resonance imaging scan of the thoracic spine reveale d anterior displacement and tethering of the cored at T6-T7 and a dors al intradural arachnoid cyst. Excision of the cyst was performed witho ut improvement in symptomatology. During reoperation the thoracic spin al cord hernia was discovered and was reduced intradurally. Methods. T he authors describe the clinical, radiographic, and surgical findings of this patient and review the findings from other reported cases. The y discuss the proposed theories for the pathophysiology of the cord he rniation and the surgical management. Results. The patient had idiopat hic thoracic spinal cord herniation as there was no history of previou s spine surgery or injury. The authors believe that the cord herniated through a congenital dural defect, which resulted in the development of a pseudoarachnoid cyst dorsally to the hernia. The patient improved after intradural reduction of the hernia and closure of the dural def ect. Conclusion. Idiopathic spinal cord herniation should be recognize d as a cause of progressive myelopathy that can be managed successfull y with microsurgical techniques.