Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Multilevel Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease with Instability
Published on: July 25, 2025
Intradural cervical disc herniation in a Klippel-Feil patient
Massimiliano Neroni1, Roberto Gazzeri, Marcelo Galarza
1Department of Neurosurgery, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Study Design:
Case report and clinical discussion.
Objective:
To describe a rare case of intradural cervical disc herniation in a patient with Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS).
Summary Of Background Data:
KFS is a congenital spinal malformation characterized by the failure in segmentation of 2 or more cervical vertebrae. The development of a cervical disc herniation in a nonfused segment is uncommon. Intradural disc herniation is rare, with only 21 cases reported in the cervical region.
Methods:
We present a case of a 52-year-old woman with KFS (C5-C6 fusion) who developed acute radiculopathy secondary to an intradural cervical disc herniation. Neurologic examination revealed a mild (Grade 3/5) decrease in motor function of the fingers and difficulty in performing fine motor tasks with right hand.
Results:
The patient underwent microsurgical removal of the herniated disc via an anterior approach followed by interbody fixation and anterior plating; exploration of the surgical field revealed 2 intradural disc fragments. After surgery, she experienced a complete remission of the symptoms.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first case of intradural cervical disc herniation in a KFS patient described in the literature.
Related Concept Videos
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction
