Perineal anesthesia following interlaminar endoscopic disc surgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Surgery
• Neurology

Background:

• Perineal anesthesia, characterized by sensory loss in the buttocks and thighs, is often associated with cauda equina syndrome due to lumbar disc herniations.
• Cauda equina syndrome can cause neuropathy of multiple lumbar and sacral nerve roots, leading to acute symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of temporary perineal anesthesia following interlaminar endoscopic disc surgery.
• To document a complication not previously reported in medical literature after this specific surgical procedure.

Main Methods:

• A 30-year-old male with severe left leg pain and S1 dermatome hypoesthesia underwent lumbar MRI, revealing a large L5-S1 disc herniation.
• The patient was treated with interlaminar endoscopic disc surgery, followed by physical therapy.

Main Results:

• Postoperatively, the patient experienced initial pain relief and slight paresis improvement, followed by temporary perineal anesthesia.
• Complete resolution of paresis and perineal anesthesia occurred by the 8th postoperative week after continued physical therapy.

Conclusions:

• Temporary perineal anesthesia can be a rare, transient complication after endoscopic disc surgery for lumbar disc herniation.
• This case represents a novel observation, as no similar reports were found in existing medical literature.