Idiopathic spinal cord herniation: report of three cases and review of the literature.
METHODS
Three case reports and a literature review are presented.


OBJECTIVE
To describe characteristic clinical and radiographic findings of idiopathic spinal cord herniation.


BACKGROUND
Idiopathic spinal cord herniation is a rare disease, with only 26 cases reported before the current study.


METHODS
Three cases of idiopathic spinal cord herniation are reported, and previous reports on this subject are reviewed.


RESULTS
The responsible regions were in the thoracic spine from T2 to T7. Symptoms were mainly unilateral muscle atrophy in the lower extremity and sensory disturbance below the thoracic level. These symptoms had been progressing gradually. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a unique feature: The spinal cord shifted anteriorly in a few segments. Computed tomographic myelogram showed another distinctive picture: There was no subarachnoid space anterior to the spinal cord.


CONCLUSIONS
Because idiopathic spinal cord herniation is out of the concept of "compression myelopathy," this condition may be a pitfall in the diagnosis. Idiopathic spinal cord herniation should be recognized as one of the treatable causes for thoracic myelopathy.
Wada
E
E
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. wada@ort.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yonenobu
K
K
Kang
J
J
D018437:Brown-Sequard Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed