Abstract

Background: Intradural disc herniations (IDHs) are rare, are difficult to diagnose on preoperative MR/CT imaging, and typically, are most readily confirmed at the time of surgery. However, one of the greatest challenges posed by these lesions, is the repair of the ventral dural rent.

Case Description: A 55-year-old male with a 20-year history of lumbago presented with low back pain and right lower extremity sciatica of 3 months’ duration. The MR and CT studies showed a compressive lesion at the L1-2 level. There was no original suspicion that this was an IDH. At surgery, performed under the operating microscope, a subtotal L1-L2 laminectomy was performed (i.e. while lysing severe adhesions between the posterior longitudinal ligament and the ventral dura, a traumatic durotomy occurred. White, spongious, friable, soft tissue, and free-floating disc fragments extruded through the durotomy site. Notably, it was initially considered to be a tumor rather than a disc. Once all fragments had been delivered, unsuccessful attempts were made to repair the ventral dura. Further efforts were curtailed due to concern that they would result in damage to multiple ventral nerve rootlets. Despite the lack of primary dural repair, the secondary measures resulted in no postoperative recurrent cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSF) and a smooth postoperative surgical course.

Conclusion: IDH at the L1-2 level is rare, and preoperative MR/CT studies may not always document their intradural location. Ideally, ventral dural tears attributed to these lesions should be directly repaired and/or managed with additional adjunctive CSF leak repair techniques (i.e. muscle patch grafts, microfibrillar collagen, and fibrin sealants).

Keywords: Intradural disc herniation, Lumbar spine, Laminectomy, Durotomy, Suturing of ventral dura, Cerebrospinal fluid leakage, L1-2 level

INTRODUCTION

Intradural disc herniations (IDHs) are very rare (0.26% and 0.30%).[ 17 , 23 ] They most commonly occur in the lumbar spine (92%) followed by the thoracic and cervical regions (5% and 3%).[ 17 , 23 ] About 55% of lumbar intradural herniations occur at L4/5, followed by 16% at L3/4, 10% at L5/S, and only rarely at L1/2 or L2/3.[ 2 , 23 , 29 ] Here, we report successful resection of an L1-L2 IDH despite our inability to primarily repair the ventral dural defect.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 55-year-old male presented with low back pain and right leg sciatica of 3 months’ duration. His preoperative neurological examination was normal.

X-rays, MR, and CT studies

The preoperative X-rays, MR, and CT did not show pathognomonic findings for an IDH. Plain X-rays showed no widening of interpedicular distance or significant vertebral scalloping. The MR revealed a compressive lesion ventral to the dural sac at the L1-2 level (i.e. T2-weighted sagittal and axial images), while the gadolinium-enhanced MR showed peripheral enhancement of the lesion [ Figures 1a and b ; 2a and b ]. In addition, the CT myelogram showed compression secondary to the LDH, but failed to document its intradural location [ Figure 3a and b ].

Figure 1:

(a and b) Sagittal and axial T2-weighted MR image of the lumbar spine demonstrated dural sac compression at L1-2.

Figure 2:

(a and b) Sagittal and axial Gd-enhanced MRI revealed a peripheral enhanced mass compressing dural sac at L1-2 level.

Figure 3:

(a and b) Sagittal and axial CT myelography showed a mass compressing dural sac at L1-2 level.

Surgery

A subtotal laminectomy of L1 and L2 was performed under a surgical microscope. Several attempts were made to retract the dural sac on the right side to expose the disc fragments. However, this was very difficult due to marked adhesions between the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) and the ventral dura. An inadvertent median durotomy occurred, resulting in the spontaneous extrusion of multiple white, spongious, friable, soft free-floating disc fragments. At first, this was thought to be a spinal tumor, but was later confirmed to constitute disc [ Figure 4a ]. Further, the tenacious capsule surrounding the disc fragments was removed [ Figure 4b ].

Figure 4:

(a) A white, spongious, friable, soft, and floating disc fragment resemble spinal cord tumors were detected in subarachnoid space. (b) Another occupational lesion covered with an erythematous capsule pushing the rootlets posteriorly was found caudal to the above mass.

Attempt at ventral dural repair

Several attempts were made to suture the ventral dura, but were unsuccessful. Secondary measures including microfibrillar collagen and fibrin sealants were utilized for dural repair resulting in no apparent residual leak utilizing Valsalva maneuvers.

Pathology

The pathological was consistent with degenerated cartilaginous tissue consistent with disc (i.e. myxoid degeneration/edematous tissue).

Postoperative course

The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no further CSF leakage. The MRI 3 months later showed confirmed no residual disc herniation, and the patient had fully recovered.

DISCUSSION

IDHs are rare, occurring from 0.26% to 0.30% of the time in the lumbar spine.[ 17 , 23 ] Since Dandy first reported an IDH in 1942,[ 7 ] we were able to identify nine cases of IDH at the L1-2 level in the English literature.[ 1 , 2 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 29 ]

Etiology of lumbar IDHs

Establishing the diagnosis of an IDH is often difficult. Discontinuity of the PLL and a “hawk-beak sign” on MRI may help diagnose IDH.[ 6 ] There may also be gas in the spinal canal.[ 14 ] Mailleux et al. reported that the “crumble disc sign” signified by an intradural mass with less compact, irregular boarders, and no contrast enhancement on MRI.[ 21 ] Others found a nonenhancing disc fragment on the contrast MR helped confirm an IDH versus tumor.[ 19 ]

Surgical documentation of IDH

The diagnosis of intradural herniation is often made at the time of surgery. Of the 122 cases, we identified in the literature, only eight were accurately diagnosed preoperatively.[ 8 ] Further, our patient’s contrast-enhanced MRI showed a mass with peripheral contrast enhancement, a finding that could readily have been misinterpreted as more consistent with a tumor.

Surgery

Surgery is the only way to remove an IDH, noting that some may regress spontaneously like other discs. Here, however, the ventral durotomy, whether deliberate or traumatic, should be closed where feasible to avoid postoperative CSF fistulas, pseudomeningoceles, meningitis, and postural headaches.[ 3 , 8 , 10 ] Among the 48 cases of lumbar intradural herniation, all but one of 16 cases without any treatment (i.e. such as suturing or applying coagulation materials to the ventral dura) showed no postoperative CSF leakage.[ 1 - 6 , 8 , 9 , 11 - 13 , 17 , 18 , 20 , 20 - 29 ]

CONCLUSION

Here, we reported an IDH at the L1-2 level that was removed through an L1-L2 laminotomy without being able to perform a primary ventral dural repair; only secondary measures were utilized (i.e. microfibrillar collagen and fibrin sealants). Although this did not result in postoperative recurrent CSF leakage, other may have this complication, thus confirming the need to perform a primary repair of the attendant durotomy whenever feasible.

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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