Migrated Disc at Cervicothoracic Junction Presenting as Acute Paraplegia

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Radiology

Background:

• Intervertebral disc migration is a rare cause of spinal cord compression.
• Inferior migration to the cervicothoracic junction can present with severe neurological deficits.
• Acute paraplegia secondary to disc migration poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of inferior intervertebral disc migration at C6-7.
• To describe the clinical presentation of acute paraplegia due to this migration.
• To discuss the diagnostic and management complexities of this condition.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing a patient with acute paraplegia.
• Diagnostic imaging including MRI to identify disc migration.
• Surgical decompression and fusion procedure.

Main Results:

• Successful surgical correction of the C6-7 intervertebral disc migration.
• Significant neurological recovery in the patient post-operatively.
• Confirmation of the rarity and diagnostic challenges of this entity.

Conclusions:

• Inferior disc migration can cause severe neurological compromise, including paraplegia.
• Prompt surgical management is crucial for favorable outcomes in such cases.
• This case underscores the importance of considering rare etiologies in spinal cord injuries.