Entrapped spinal nerve roots in a pseudomeningocoele as a complication of previous spinal surgery

• Published in: Acta neurochirurgica Vol. 148; no. 2; pp. 215 - 220
• Main Authors: Pavlou, G, Bucur, S D, van Hille, P T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austria Springer Nature B.V 01-02-2006
• Subjects: Back surgery; Cauda Equina - injuries; Cauda Equina - pathology; Cauda Equina - physiopathology; Cerebrospinal Fluid - physiology; Cysts - diagnosis; Cysts - etiology; Cysts - physiopathology; Decompression, Surgical - methods; Diskectomy - adverse effects; Dura Mater - injuries; Dura Mater - pathology; Dura Mater - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Intervertebral Disc - pathology; Intervertebral Disc - surgery; Laminectomy - adverse effects; Low Back Pain - etiology; Low Back Pain - physiopathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Meningocele - diagnosis; Meningocele - etiology; Meningocele - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Nerve Compression Syndromes - diagnosis; Nerve Compression Syndromes - etiology; Nerve Compression Syndromes - surgery; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Radiculopathy - diagnosis; Radiculopathy - etiology; Radiculopathy - physiopathology; Spinal Nerve Roots - injuries; Spinal Nerve Roots - pathology; Spinal Nerve Roots - physiopathology; Spine; Tissue Adhesions - diagnosis; Tissue Adhesions - etiology; Tissue Adhesions - physiopathology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0001-6268; 0942-0940
• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-005-0696-y

Pseudomeningocele is a rare but well recognised complication of lumbar surgery (microdiscectomy and laminectomy). Most of the patients tolerate the presence of the cyst well, however some present with back pain and spinal claudication, presumably due to neural compression. We report a case who presented following three operations (microdiscectomy, laminectomy and excision of a pseudomeningocele) with symptoms of spinal claudication and bilateral radicular pain. The cause of her pain was evident only at operation and was due to herniation of nerve roots through the dural defect.