Cervical disc herniation in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain: a case report

A case report of a patient with a known diagnosis of congenital insensitivity to pain who developed a herniated cervical disc.

To study the clinical manifestations of cervical radiculopathy in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain and the long-term outcome after surgical treatment.

There have been no reports in the English literature documenting such a patient.

Retrospective case report and long-term clinical and radiographic follow-up.

This patient with a known diagnosis of congenital insensitivity to pain had neurologic motor weakness with "neck and shoulder pain." Clear radicular pattern could not be elicited. The patient underwent a successful anterior discectomy and fusion with long-term clinical and radiographic results.

Patients with congenital insensitivity to pain who develop a cervical disc herniation may present with atypical symptoms not manifesting in the classic radicular pattern. Higher index of suspicion by the clinician must be practiced to make the appropriate diagnosis. Successful surgical outcome may be achieved in these patients.