Spontaneous Lumbar Disc Rupture in Tetraplegia Patient - A Case Report -

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2013;15(2):108-111.
Published online December 1, 2013.

Received: 29 October 2013 • Revised: 6 November 2013 • Accepted: 6 November 2013

Abstract

The development of disc herniation is usually associated with physical trauma or degenerated intervertebral disc. Lumbar disc herniation is one of the most common causes of lower back pain and radicular pain. Patients may have back pain with radiating to lower extremity, loss of sensation or paresis, decreased deep tendon reflex and other varied clinical manifestations. But these clinical manifestations may not be presented in spinal cord injured patient, because they have already decreased muscle power, loss of sensation and altered deep tendon reflex. Instead, nonspecific neurologic symptom such as increased spasticity may be presented. Electrodiagnostic study is helpful in evaluating radiculopathy due to disc herniation. Here, we report a case of spontaneous lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy confirmed by electrophysiologic study and MRI in cervical spinal cord injured patient. This is the first report on spontaneous lumbar disc herniation in tetreplegia patient.

Key Words: Intervertebral Disc, Spinal cord injuries, Electrodiagnosis