Acute thoracic disc herniation with severe spinal cord compression: a case report.
Mario Cahueque1, Andres Cobar2, Santiago Montenegro3
1Hospital Maranatha, 13 Calle 15, Guatemala City 01010, Guatemala.
Journal of Surgical Case Reports
|January 16, 2025
Summary
A rare acute thoracic disc herniation caused sudden leg weakness in a young man. Prompt surgery led to significant neurological recovery, emphasizing early intervention for this uncommon spinal condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Thoracic disc herniations are rare, comprising <1% of all spinal disc herniations.
- Acute thoracic disc herniations with severe neurological deficits are exceptionally uncommon in medical literature.
Observation:
- A 27-year-old male mechanic presented with acute dorsal pain and bilateral lower limb weakness after heavy lifting.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a severe T9/T10 disc herniation causing significant spinal cord compression.
Findings:
- Emergency surgical decompression was successfully performed using a right-sided transpedicular thoracic approach.
- The patient experienced progressive neurological recovery following the surgical intervention.
Implications:
- This case highlights the critical need for prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention in acute thoracic disc herniations.
- Multidisciplinary management is essential for optimizing patient outcomes in rare spinal cord compression cases.
