Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of the Far Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniation

Far lateral lumbar disc herniation is an uncommon condition that the cephalad nerve root is compressed rather than the common nerve root compressed by a routine posterior disc herniation at than at that level. As a result of improvement in spinal imaging techniques, far lateral lumbar disc herniation is now recognized as an important clinical entity. In the past one-year we had three patients diagnosed as far lateral lumbar disc herniation by physical ecaminations combined MRI. Two patents received operation by midline incision and paraspinal approach with concomitant hemilaminectomy with minimal medial facetectomy for discectomy. One patient was through the para-median muscle-splitting approach. According to the MRI, we subdivided the herniation to two subtypes and chose different approach. After operation, all patients’ radiculopathy and motor weakness had improved. Thigh and leg pain completely subsided in first or second week after operation. Far lateral lumbar disc herniation is uncommon but not rare. Exact physical examinations combined MRI can help us choose the right surgical approach and avoid disorientation intraoperatively and soinal instability.

並列關鍵字

Lumbar disc,Lateral disc herniation

國際替代計量

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