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.
Additional articles :
Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF): A review of indications, techni...
Revision Lumbar Fusions Have Higher Rates of Reoperation and
Result in Worse Clinical Outcomes Compa...
Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic debridement and
drainage with accurate pathogen detection for...
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
Clinical predictive model of lumbar curve Cobb angle below
selective fusion for thoracic adolescent ...