Brogna C, Lavrador JP, Patel S, Vergani F, Bassi S, Grahovac G, Bhangoo R, Ashkan K. Posterior longitudinal ligament and its implications in intradural cervical disc herniation: Case report and review of the literature.
Surg Neurol Int 2018;
9:119. [PMID:
30009083 PMCID:
PMC6024507 DOI:
10.4103/sni.sni_29_18]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Intradural disc herniations (IDH) are rare, particularly in the cervical spine, where they account for less than 5% of all discs. Adhesions between the ossified/calcified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), dura, and ossified/calcified disc herniations increase the complexity of resecting these cervical lesions.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 42-year-old male presented with a rapidly progressive cervical myelopathy over a 2-month period. This was attributed to an ossified/calcified intradural cervical disc herniation in conjunction with OPLL. The anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) resulted in a dural defect but there was no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula as the arachnoid membrane remained intact. Had there been a CSF leak, it would have warranted both wound-peritoneal (WP) and lumbo-peritoneal shunts (LP). The surgeons should have anticipated that a CSF leak would likely occur prior to performing the ACDF, and should have prophylactically prepared and draped the abdomen for a potential WP, followed by a LP shunt. Three months postoperatively, the patient's proprioceptive deficit improved, and he almost completely recovered motor function.
CONCLUSION
Performing an ACDF for resection of an intradural calcified/ossified disc with OPLL often results in both a dural defect and CSF fistula. As the arachnoid membrane rarely remains intact, the spine surgeon should be prepared to immediately perform both a WP shunt, and subsequently, an LP. In this case, following an ACDF, resection of an intradural ossified disc with OPLL resulted in an isolated dural defect without a CSF fistula and did not require no dural repair or shunting procedures.
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