Lumbar disc herniation presenting with fecal incontinence without radiculopathy: A case report
George Fotakopoulos1, Alexandros Brotis1, Kostas Andreas Fountas1
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
Background:
Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) usually presents with lower extremity symptoms and signs, but rarely with bladder and bowel complaints. Here, we present a 61-year-old female who suffered solely from fecal incontinence (FI) attributed to a large LDH.
Case Description:
The patient presented with FI, but had a normal neurological examination. When the lumbar magnetic resonance imaging of showed a large central L5S1 LDH, the patient underwent an urgent diskectomy. Six months later, her symptoms had improved.
Conclusion:
Patients with large central LDHs may present with FI alone warranting urgent/emergent disc removal.
