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Transtubular Endoscopic Posterolateral Decompression for L5-S1 Lumbar Lateral Disc Herniation
Published on: October 14, 2022
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[Traumatic cervical disc prolapse with severe neurological impact]
1Ortopædkirurgisk Afdeling, Kolding Sygehus, Skovvangen 2-8, 6000 Kolding. rolandknudsen@hotmail.com.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|December 16, 2014
Summary
A scooter accident caused a traumatic cervical disc prolapse, leading to spinal cord compression. This condition, often missed by initial CT scans, can result in severe neurological deficits.
Area of Science:
- Traumatology
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- A 51-year-old male sustained a scooter accident resulting in immediate neck pain and neurological deficits.
- Initial trauma computed tomography (CT) of the cervical spine revealed no abnormalities.
Observation:
- The patient presented with decreased sensation and motor function in his extremities following the trauma.
- Neurological deficiencies persisted, prompting further investigation.
Findings:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 12 days post-trauma identified a C3/C4 disc prolapse with significant spinal cord compression.
- Despite surgical decompression, the patient did not experience neurological recovery.
Implications:
- Traumatic cervical disc prolapse is a rare but critical condition that may not be evident on initial CT scans.
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment of traumatic cervical disc prolapse can lead to irreversible neurological damage.
- MRI is crucial for diagnosing subtle cervical spine injuries with neurological compromise.
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