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Herniation of calcified cervical intervertebral disc causes dissociated motor loss in a child
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
Herniation of calcified nucleus pulposus is rare in children. Surgical intervention for this spinal condition led to significant muscle strength improvement in a 12-year-old boy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Calcified Nucleus Pulposus
Background:
- Intervertebral disc calcification in children is uncommon.
- Herniation of the calcified nucleus pulposus is a rare complication.
- Surgical intervention is typically not required.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old boy presented with a calcified nucleus pulposus at the C7-T1 level.
- The calcified disc material had ruptured into the spinal canal.
- This resulted in dissociated motor loss.
Findings:
- The patient underwent anterior discectomy and fusion.
- Post-operative muscle weakness showed marked improvement.
- This suggests surgical intervention can be effective in select cases.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare pediatric spinal complication.
- Early surgical intervention may be beneficial for neurological recovery.
- Further research into managing herniated calcified nucleus pulposus is warranted.
Abstract:
Herniation of the calcified nucleus pulposus is a rare complication of intervertebral disc calcification in children. Surgical intervention is rarely indicated in the majority of such cases. This paper reports a 12-year-old boy with a calcified nucleus pulposus at C7-T1 which had ruptured into the spinal canal, causing dissociated motor loss. Anterior discectomy and fusion were performed and the patient's muscle weakness markedly improved after surgery.