Symptomatic gas-containing herniated disc with the vacuum phenomenon: mechanism and treatment. Case report

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2012;52(2):106-8. doi: 10.2176/nmc.52.106.

Abstract

A 76-year-old woman presented with an extremely rare case of symptomatic gas-containing disc herniation manifesting as left posterolateral thigh pain and ankle dorsiflexion motor weakness. The diagnosis was L3-4 vacuum disc associated with epidural pneumorrhachis. The patient underwent partial hemilaminectomy and cyst incision. After incising the cyst, the thecal sac and root were decompressed sufficiently. Vacuum disc is a common phenomenon in the elderly rarely associated with pneumorrhachis and is usually asymptomatic. Symptomatic epidural gas-containing herniated discs with the vacuum phenomenon are very rare. Gas aspiration should be considered, but excision of the gas-containing herniated disc should be performed in patients with neurological deficits, frequent recurrence, or difficult location to approach.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cysts / pathology*
  • Cysts / physiopathology
  • Cysts / surgery
  • Female
  • Gases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / pathology*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / physiopathology
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / surgery
  • Sciatica / pathology*
  • Sciatica / physiopathology
  • Sciatica / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vacuum*

Substances

  • Gases