Case 310: Posterior Epidural Migration of a Lumbar Disk Herniation

A 49-year-old man presented with right foot drop, bilateral cruralgia mainly on the left side, and genital and perianal hypoesthesia, which started suddenly 12 days before. After onset of symptoms, the patient also experienced an accidental fall at home, resulting in a left fibular fracture, which was treated with reduction and with seven-hole plate Synthes Locking Compression Plate at the orthopedic clinic. The neurologic examination showed paresthesias on the posterior aspect of both thighs and crural regions that was worse on the left side, hypoesthesia in the L5 root region on the right side, and right foot drop. There was no urinary retention or fecal incontinence. The patient denied past surgery, back trauma, heavy manual labor, hypermobility, or any other remarkable medical history. The patient was afebrile. Laboratory results on the 1st day of hospitalization showed increased C-reactive protein level (0.62 mg/dL; reference range, 0.0-0.5 mg/dL), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (60 mm/h; reference range, 0-20 mm/h), and increased aspartate transaminase (38 U/L [0.63 mu kat/L]; reference range, 0-31 U/L [0-0.52 mu kat/L]), alanine transaminase (70 U/L [1.17 mu kat/L]; reference range, 0-31 U/L [0-0.52 mu kat/L]), and high lymphocyte (4.55 x 103/mL; reference range, [1.0-3.0] x103/mL), and neutrophil (8.79 x 103/mL; reference range, [2.0-7.0] x 103/mL) levels. Absence of coagulopathy was demonstrated by normal coagulation values (international normalized ratio, 1.19; reference value, 0.80-1.25; activated partial thromboplastin time ratio, 0.88 second; reference range, 0.79-1.27 seconds). Electroneurography showed marked hypoevocable F response in the right tibia. Electromyography indicated severe reduction of muscle recruitment pertaining to right L4, L5, and S1 nerve territory and, to a lesser extent, of muscles pertaining to L3 territory bilaterally in the absence of spontaneous denervation. Unenhanced CT and contrast-enhanced MRI of the lumbosacral spine were performed.

Automated summary

A 49-year-old man presented with right foot drop, bilateral cruralgia mainly on the left side, and genital and perianal hypoesthesia. Neurologic examination showed hypoesthesia in the L5 root region on the right side and right foot drop. Laboratory results showed abnormal levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. CT and MRI of the lumbosacral spine were performed.