Management of symptomatic disc herniation in pregnancy: A case report and literature review

Lower back pain with radiculopathy due to a disc herniation occurs in about 0.01% of pregnant females. Surgical intervention is seldom required unless there is intractable pain, and for a significant neurological deficit. Further, the use of intraoperative ionizing radiation may adversely affect the developing fetus.

A 25-year-old female, 17-weeks pregnant, presented with right lower extremity sciatica due to a L4-5 unilateral disc herniation. She underwent a microdiscectomy that required just one intraoperative C-arm fluoroscopic image. Postoperatively, her leg pain resolved, and she delivered a healthy baby at term.

Using single-image C-arm fluoroscopy in a pregnant female undergoing an emergent lumbar discectomy, employing as low as reasonably achievable/shielding, did not adversely impact the developing fetus.