Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
01:24
Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Approach for Lumbar Discectomy
Published on: September 8, 2023
1.2K
Impending Discectomy in a Patient with Zoster Induced Sciatica; An Instructive Case Report
Farzad Omidi-Kashani1, Seyed Mohammad Ata Sharifi Dalooei1
1Orthopedic Research Center, Department of Orthopedic, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
|June 17, 2016
Summary
Herpes zoster can mimic cauda equina syndrome, a rare cause of sciatica. Careful diagnostic evaluation prevented unnecessary surgery in a young woman misdiagnosed due to similar patient names and imaging.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Sciatica typically originates from lumbar disc herniation.
- Herpes zoster (shingles) is an uncommon cause of sciatica.
- Diagnostic errors can occur due to patient name similarity and imaging overlap.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old woman presented with symptoms mimicking cauda equina syndrome, including urinary incontinence and bilateral leg involvement.
- Her presentation was initially attributed to a potential disc herniation.
- Lumbosacral imaging of another patient with a similar name revealed a large L5-S1 disc herniation.
Findings:
- Herpes zoster was identified as the underlying cause of sciatica, not a disc herniation.
- The similar clinical presentation and patient name similarity nearly led to an incorrect surgical intervention (discectomy).
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering diverse etiologies for sciatica, beyond common discogenic causes.
- Emphasizes the critical role of meticulous diagnostic review and image identification to prevent surgical misadventures.
- Underscores the need for vigilance in differentiating neurological conditions with overlapping symptoms.
