{"id":"d7c2f9ac-9e25-4253-8bc0-1234f3e2ac80","slug":"incarcerated-spinal-cord-a-preventable-surgical-debacle","title":"Incarcerated spinal cord: A preventable surgical debacle","authors":["Sameer Futane","Pravin Salunke"],"abstract":"Background: Herniation followed by incarceration of the spinal cord has been increasingly reported, particularly in the post-MRI era, with various causes including idiopathic, iatrogenic, traumatic, congenital, and inflammatory origins. Most cases described involve ventral herniation, while this article presents a rare case of posterior incarceration following a failed attempt to remove an intradural extramedullary lesion. Methods: A 27-year-old male patient underwent D11 level laminectomy for an IDEM lesion but the surgery was abandoned due to excessive bleeding, leaving the dura open. After four weeks, he presented with paraplegia and MRI revealed herniation of the spinal cord through a dorsal dural defect. A postero-lateral approach was utilized to remove the lesion and reposition the herniated cord. Results: Intraoperatively, the incarcerated spinal cord was observed through a narrow dural neck. Following the excision of the IDEM and primary dural repair, postoperative MRI confirmed complete lesion removal with cerebrospinal fluid space surrounding the repositioned cord. The patient showed partial improvement at the three-month follow-up. Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of early surgical intervention to prevent spinal cord herniation and incarceration, particularly after failed attempts to remove intradural lesions. Awareness of this complication is crucial for prevention and timely treatment to mitigate neurological deficits. Keywords: spinal cord, herniation, incarceration, surgery, dural defect, intradural extramedullary lesion, neurological recovery","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/d7c2f9ac-9e25-4253-8bc0-1234f3e2ac80/featured/hero-1782421039346.png","publishDate":"2013-08-27T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.117042","categories":["Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"http://sni.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/3765/SNI-4-108.pdf"}