Surgical Management of Idiopathic Thoracic Spinal Cord Herniation

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum causing Brown-Séquard syndrome: a case report and literature review

Brown-Séquard syndrome (BSS) has many etiologies, including penetrating trauma, extramedullary tumors, and disc herniation. However, thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is an extremely rare cause of this syndrome. A 46-year-old woman with motor weakness in her right lower extremity and urinary retention was admitted to our department. Based on the results of physical examination, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, a diagnosis of BSS with OLF was considered. The patient underwent urgent conservative treatment. BSS is a rare condition characterized by hemisection or hemicompression of the spinal marrow. The herein-described case of incomplete BSS due to OLF responded to conservative treatment. However, the successful nonoperative management of this case is insufficient evidence to consider it as the standard of care. Therefore, emergency laminectomy decompression remains the standard of care for BSS.

Case Report: Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation: An Overlooked and Frequently Misdiagnosed Entity

Background

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation is an extremely rare entity that is characterized by protrusion of the spinal cord through a defect in the ventral dura. Due to the paucity of enough clinical evidence, the treatment and prognosis of idiopathic spinal cord herniation are still elusive. Herein, we reported a case of idiopathic spinal cord herniation occurring at the C7–T1 levels that was treated by surgical reduction.

Case description

A 44-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 5-year history of numbness and weakness in the bilateral lower limbs. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated ventral displacement of the spinal cord at the C7–T1 levels, and there seemed to be a cuneiform space-occupying lesion dorsal to the spinal cord. A diagnosis of the spinal intradural extramedullary tumor was suspected. An exploratory operation was performed via a posterior midline approach. Intraoperatively, we found a defect in the ventral dura through which the spinal cord herniated to the epidural space. After the herniated parenchyma was returned, an artificial dura matter was used to repair the defect. The postoperative course was uneventful. After a 3-month follow-up, the lower-extremity weakness was significantly improved, and there was no recurrence of the spinal cord herniation.

Conclusion

Preoperative diagnosis of idiopathic spinal cord herniation is exceedingly challenging. Surgical reduction of the herniated spinal cord with the repair of the dural defect is an effective approach for the treatment of this rare disorder, and the surgical outcome is favorable.

Ventral Thoracic Spinal Cord Herniation: Clinical Image and Video Illustration of Microsurgical Treatment

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation is a rare cause of progressive myelopathy that can result in severe disability. In the following report, an illustrative case and associated video in the surgical management of ventral thoracic spinal cord herniation is presented and discussed. Spinal cord herniation is most commonly observed in the thoracic spine and is characterized by ventral displacement of the spinal cord through a defect in the dura. Over time ventral herniation of the spinal cord can compromise its vascular perfusion, resulting in further ischemic injury. The etiology is unclear, but suspected to be either acquired or congenital. Multiple surgical techniques have been reported with the goal of detethering the cord and taking adjunctive measures in reducing the risk for re-herniation. Surgical management of thoracic spinal cord herniation carries great risks, although neurological outcomes are generally favorable with improvements reported in the majority of cases.

Idiopathic Ventral Spinal Cord Herniation: Video Report and Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic ventral spinal cord herniation (ISCH) is a rare disease; however, it is an important differential diagnosis. Its treatment presents some controversies.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report on a 55-year-old woman who had been presenting with relevant back pain and leg weakness for the past 3 years and urinary incontinence for the past 3 months. Clinical examination disclosed paresis on the right inferior limb and right foot, as well as a T6-level painful hypoesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a T4/T5 ISCH. The patient underwent surgical decompression. During the procedure, we opened the arachnoid and cut the dentate ligaments of the spine, which considerably improved the mobility and safety of the procedure. In the early follow-up, our patient presented a partial improvement regarding the paresis grades and hypoesthesia pain relief on the left side. A video showing the surgical procedure and case evolution is presented. We also assembled literature reviews to compare our case with others. ISCH is becoming a more recognized cause of progressive thoracic myelopathy. However, this condition is still frequently misdiagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging is the key for diagnosis. The objective of surgical treatment is to prevent myelopathy progression. The technique presented in this report is an appropriate surgical option, once it is a safer way to identify and treat the defect. The neurologic condition usually improves greatly after surgical treatment, especially when the patient presents positive predictive factors.

CONCLUSIONS

ISCH is being more recognized. The technique presented is an appropriate surgical option.