Turkish Neurosurgery
2008 , Vol 18 , Num 4
Spontaneous Regression of Extruded Lumbar Disc Herniation: Report of Two Illustrative Case and Review of the Literature
Ufuk University School of Medicine, Departmert of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
Although the first reported surgery for lumbar disc herniation was published
many years ago, there still remains little agreement for the most effective
treatment protocol for symptomatic cases. Many patients with extruded lumbar
disc herniation require surgical intervention due to radiculopathy of lower
extremities but some neurological symptoms of intervertebral disc herniation
may frequently improve with conservative treatment. In this paper, two cases of
spontaneous regression of extruded lumbar herniated discs are presented. The
disc regressions of two patients were correlated with clinical improvement and
documented with follow up MRI studies. Additionally the clinical course of
lumbar disc herniation was discussed with mechanisms, features of MRI,
immunohistological pathology and treatment options of past clinical studies.
Keywords :
Spontaneous, Intervertebral, Disc, Herniation, Regression