CASE:

A 73-year-old man with instrumented fusion of L3-4-5 underwent the removal of previous pedicle screws and posterior instrumented fusion of L1-2-3. The solid dorsal fusion mass of L3-5 was identified intraoperatively and preoperatively. At 3 years after the second surgery, he presented with abrupt radiating pain in the left leg. Plain radiographs showed a collapse of the intervertebral disc space, and magnetic resonance imaging showed disc herniation of L3-4.

CONCLUSIONS:

Disc herniation even in solid fused segments may occur. Removal of pedicle screws and cranial extension of interbody fusion may increase the intradiscal stress associated with physiologic cantilever motion of the disc.