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SM Journal Clinical and Medical Imaging

Lumbar Nerve Root Anomalies are Still a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge. Case Report and Review of Literature

[ ISSN : 3068-000X ]

Abstract
Details

Received: 29-Nov-2016

Accepted: 24-Mar-2017

Published: 27-May-2017

Case Report | Volume 3 - Issue 1 | Article DOI :

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Fabio Freguia*, Katharina Koeck*, Kirsten Schmieder and Stefan Grossauer*

Department of Neurosurgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

Corresponding Author:

Stefan Grossauer, In der Schornau 23 25, Department of Neurosurgery, Ruhr University Bochum, 44892 Bochum, Germany, Tel: 4915759634810; Fax: 492342993609

Abstract

Even in the MRI era lumbar nerve root anomalies in patients with lumbar radiculopathies are still frequently un- or misdiagnosed and usually discovered during spine surgery only. The existing literature suggests that patients with lumbar nerve root anomalies are especially prone to develop radiculopathies and suffering operative complications. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis is imperative to enable appropriate surgery and avoid complications. We describe a case of a patient with unilateral lumbar radiculopathy misdiagnosed with a lumbosacral disc herniation on magnetic resonance imaging. During surgery a Neidre/MacNab type 2b lumbar nerve root anomaly rather than a disc herniation was verified, which required a wide decompression of the involved neural structures. The literature is reviewed and the clinical and radiological features of lumbar nerve root anomalies are discussed from a neurosurgical perspective.

Citation

Freguia F, Koeck K, Schmieder K and Grossauer S. Lumbar Nerve Root Anomalies are Still a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge. Case Report and Review of Literature. SM J Clin. Med. Imaging. 2017; 3(1): 1010.