Abstract

Background: Pure sequestrated thoracic disc herniations secondary to a traumatic event are rare.

Case Description: Elderly male presented with the sudden onset of severe paraparesis following a fall. The MR showed a left-sided extruded disc at the T10-T11. The patient underwent a thoracic interlaminar laminectomy, removal of one large, and several smaller sequestrated disc fragments utilizing a transfacet corridor requiring placement of an interbody Peek cage, and bilateral T10 and T11 pedicle screw instrumentation. At 6 postoperative months, he sustained a good recovery.

Conclusion: Acute thoracic disc herniations without attendant fracture/dislocation are rare. When they result in major neurological deficits, timely surgical excision is warranted.

Keywords: Outcome, Thoracic disc, Thoracic spine, Transfacet pedicle sparing route, Transthoracic approach, Traumatic thoracic disc herniation

INTRODUCTION

Acute traumatic thoracic disc herniations without serious fracture/dislocation are rare.

Here, we present a 75-year-old male whose acute paraparesis was attributed to a traumatic MR/ CT documented sequestrated disc at the T10-T11 level. Following surgical excision, the patient sustained a remarkable recovery.

CASE REPORT

A 75-year-old male presented with severe paraparesis after a fall. He exhibited bilateral lower extremity weakness (strength score of 2/5) with diffuse hyperreflexia, bilateral Babinski signs, and a questionable T12 sensory level.

Imaging

The T2-weighted axial MR images showed an isointense left-sided large anterolateral thoracic disc herniation at the T10-T11 level with superior migration resulting in an image equivalent to a “complete block” herniation [ Figure 1a ]. The adjacent vertebral endplates were edematous due to the antecedent trauma. Further, there was gas in the T10/ T11 disc space [ Figures 1b - d ]. The CT scan confirmed these traumatic findings [ Figure 2a and b ].

Figure 1:

Thoracic spine MRI, (a) axial T2-weighted image show left-sided isointense mass compatible with a sequestrated disc (black arrow), (b and c) sagittal T1- and T2-weighted MRI demonstrated the disc fragment migrated up, note the edema of the corresponding end plated. (d) MR myelogram showing complete block at the affected level and hyperintense endplates edema.

Figure 2:

Thoracic spine reconstructed C.T. scan, (a) in sagittal view, the intervertebral disc space is hypodense indicating release of nitrogen gas through the porous holes of the corresponding end plates into the disc space subsequent to expulsion of the nucleus and occurrence of negative pressure, designated as vacuum phenomenon (white arrow head) (b). Coronal images show breakage of the lateral syndesmophytes in the absence of vertebral body fracture which is indicative of acute traumatic event.

Surgery

The surgery included; a thoracic interlaminar laminectomy, removal of one large and several smaller sequestrated disc fragments (i.e., removed through a transfacet corridor), and placement of an interbody banana-shaped Peek cage (i.e., bilaterally at the T10 and T11 level) with T10 and T11 bilateral pedicle screws [ Figure 3a and b ].

Figure 3:

Intraoperative fluoroscopy (a) there is narrow dissector inside the disc, note that the disc space is hypodense (intradiscal gas: black arrow), (b) after placement of a cage.

Six weeks postoperatively, could the patient could barely ambulate with a walker. However, the thoracic plain radiographs showed that the fusion construct was intact [ Figure 4 ]. We await further neurological follow-up [ Figure 5 ].

Figure 4:

Postoperative lateral radiograph showing the construct.

Figure 5:

(a and b) Photograph of the patient at 6-month follow-up, showing normal walking.

DISCUSSION

Thoracic disc herniations account for roughly 0.25–0.75% of all spinal disc ruptures.[ 7 - 9 ]

Rarely, a traumatic sequestrated soft disc herniations can occur in the absence of a vertebral fracture or dislocation.[ 1 , 4 , 6 , 10 ] We found two such cases in the traumatic thoracic disc herniation literature.[ 3 , 5 ] Transfacet pedicle-sparing approaches are often successfully utilized to remove sequestrated thoracic disc herniations as in this case (TDH).[ 2 , 8 ] However, the quality of outcomes will heavily depend on the severity of the preoperative neurological deficit and the timeless of surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging is the study of choice to identify traumatic thoracic disc herniations. Notably, patients with severe preoperative deficits may not exhibit substantial postoperative recovery despite timely surgical intervention utilizing a transfacet pedicle-sparing approach.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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