Jornal de Coluna e Neurocirurgia

Spontaneous Resorption of Extruded Lumbar Disc Herniation: Report of Five Cases

Mahmoud M Taha and Safwat Abouhashem

Objectives: The optimum treatment of extruded lumbar disc herniation is controversial. Spontaneous regression of large lumbar disc extrusion is well known. The aim of this study is to describe five patients with spontaneous lumbar disc regression in addition to the possible mechanisms of regression and the intraoperative finding during surgery. Methods: Five patients with spontaneous regression of extruded lumbar disc observed using magnetic resonance imaging is included in the study. All patients were male who refused surgical treatment at their outpatient’s clinic visits. The age ranged between 28 to 48 years. They are followed up neurologically and by imaging for a mean period of 4.6 ± 1.62 year. Results: All patients have attacks of low back pain and acute radicular pain. One patient had L3-4 disc, two patients located at the L4-5 level and two patients located at the L5-S1 level. All patients relieved from their neurological symptoms with conservative treatment. This improvement is followed by spontaneous regression of the extruded lumbar disc. One patient experienced new radicular pain refractory to medical treatment despite this regression. The patient operated with L5-S1 microdiscectomy with smooth postoperative course