Primary Paraspinal Hydatidosis Causing Acute Paraplegia.
Srihari Sridharan1, G S Jagan Narayana1, Kalyanasundarabharathi Chidambaram2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurosurgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
|July 12, 2017
Summary
Primary paraspinal hydatidosis, a rare Echinococcus granulosus infection, can cause acute paraplegia. Surgical excision and albendazole therapy are crucial for managing this rare cause of compressive myelopathy in endemic regions.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Parasitology
- Neurology
Background:
- Hydatidosis, a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is endemic in India.
- Skeletal muscle involvement is an extremely rare manifestation of this parasitic disease.
Observation:
- A rare case of primary paraspinal hydatidosis with extradural extension presenting as acute paraplegia is reported.
- The patient underwent surgical excision of the cyst and spinal cord decompression.
Findings:
- Surgical intervention combined with albendazole therapy was the management approach.
- This case highlights paraspinal hydatid disease as a rare but important differential diagnosis for acute compressive myelopathy.
Implications:
- In endemic areas, paraspinal hydatidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute compressive myelopathy.
- While antihelminthic chemotherapy is primary, surgical management is critical for effective treatment of spinal hydatidosis.
