Spontaneous thoracic spinal cord herniation: three cases with long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
Spontaneous thoracic spinal cord herniation (STSCH) is an uncommon cause of thoracic myelopathy. Fewer than 40 cases have been reported in the English language literature with a mean follow-up of less than 6 months.


METHODS
We have encountered three patients diagnosed with STSCH in the last 6 years at our institution. These patients presented with symptoms and signs localizing to the thoracic spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed ventral thoracic spinal cord displacement in each.


METHODS
One patient was treated surgically, two managed expectantly. Two patients have been followed for greater than 5 years, whereas a third has been followed for 15 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience suggests that patients with neurological symptoms and signs attributable to STSCH may not progress and therefore may be followed with clinical and magnetic resonance imaging surveillance. When surgery is indicated for progressive STSCH, late retethering may occur.
Ammar
Kevin N
KN
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.
Pritchard
Patrick R
PR
Matz
Paul G
PG
Hadley
Mark N
MN
D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000473:pathology; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography / Q000379:methods; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome