Acute cauda equina syndrome caused by a gas-containing prolapsed intervertebral disk

Gas production as a part of disk degeneration can occur, but it rarely caus es clinical nerve compression syndromes. A rare case of gaseous degeneratio n in a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disk causing acute cauda equina synd rome is described. Radiologic features and intraoperative findings are repo rted. A 78-year-old woman with severe lumbar canal stenosis had acute cauda equina syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large disk protrusi on, and she underwent an urgent operation for this. Surgery confirmed the s evere lumbar canal stenosis, but the disk prolapse contained gas that had c aused the nerve compression.