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Spontaneous resorption of sequestrated intervertebral disc herniation
Tamer Orief1, Yasser Orz, Walid Attia
1Department of Spine Surgery, Neurosciences Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. tamerorief@yahoo.com
World Neurosurgery
|December 14, 2011
Summary
Sequestrated disc herniation can spontaneously resolve, as shown by MRI. Conservative treatment is recommended for at least two months before considering surgery for lumbar and cervical disc herniation.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Spontaneous resorption of sequestrated intervertebral disc herniation is a recognized phenomenon.
- Understanding its mechanisms and predictive factors is crucial for optimal patient management.
Observation:
- Six cases of spontaneous sequestrated intervertebral disc herniation resorption were observed via magnetic resonance imaging.
- Patients experienced acute radicular pain and opted for conservative management over immediate surgery.
Findings:
- All patients, including those with lumbar (L4-5, L5-S1) and cervical (C5-6) herniations, recovered from radicular pain within 3-6 weeks.
- Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed resorption of herniated discs in 4-9 months, correlating with pain relief.
Implications:
- Sequestrated disc herniation possesses inherent regression potential, likely due to high water content facilitating dehydration and inflammation-mediated resorption.
- Conservative management for at least two months is advised for sequestrated disc herniation, reserving surgery for cases with severe neurological decline.
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