IDIOPATHIC SPINAL-CORD HERNIATION - A TREATABLE CAUSE OF THE BROWN-SEQUARD SYNDROME - CASE-REPORT

SYMPTOMATIC HERNIATION OF the spinal cord through the dura is an uncom mon clinical problem. Since 1989, we have encountered three patients w ho each presented with an unexplained, longstanding Brown-Sequard synd rome and were found to have idiopathic herniation of the thoracic spin al cord. This report describes the clinical, radiographic, and surgica l findings in these three patients and reviews the five previously rep orted patients with this syndrome. Idiopathic herniation of the spinal cord is a treatable cause of the Brown-Sequard syndrome that may be m ore common than is currently recognized and should be known to all sur geons managing spinal disorders.