Foot drop due to lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a relatively common finding in spinal practice. Bilateral foot drop (BFD) due to LDH is an extremely rare condition with only a few reported cases. We describe the case of a middle-aged man presenting with a rapid onset BFD with back and leg pain. Urgent MRI revealed an L4-L5 centrally located LDH with bilateral compression of the L5 nerve roots and the cauda equina centrally. About 4 h after presentation surgery was performed adopting a bilateral L4-L5 interlaminar approach and the prolapsed disc was removed. Nine months after surgery, the patient showed a complete recovery of his deficit. We discuss the advantages of this approach in this urgent situation and we compare it with other techniques.

Acute bilateral foot drop due to lumbar disc herniation treated by bilateral interlaminar approach: case report and literature review

Marchesini, Nicolò
;
Ricci, Umberto Maria;Soda, Christian;
2023-01-01

Abstract

Foot drop due to lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a relatively common finding in spinal practice. Bilateral foot drop (BFD) due to LDH is an extremely rare condition with only a few reported cases. We describe the case of a middle-aged man presenting with a rapid onset BFD with back and leg pain. Urgent MRI revealed an L4-L5 centrally located LDH with bilateral compression of the L5 nerve roots and the cauda equina centrally. About 4 h after presentation surgery was performed adopting a bilateral L4-L5 interlaminar approach and the prolapsed disc was removed. Nine months after surgery, the patient showed a complete recovery of his deficit. We discuss the advantages of this approach in this urgent situation and we compare it with other techniques.
2023
Lumbar disc herniation; bilateral foot drop; foot drop; lumbar stenosis; microdiscectomy; minimally invasive surgery
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/1009918
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 2
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact