Spontaneous herniation of the spinal cord: operative technique and follow-up in 10 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report on a series of 10 patients with spontaneous thoracic cord herniation, provide the longterm follow-up, and propose a surgical strategy.


METHODS
All 10 patients had a defect in the ventral dura mater. They were all treated surgically with wide excision of the dura around the defect, repositioning of the cord, and reconstruction with a ventral patch. Five patients were followed up for > 4 years.


RESULTS
Surgery improved motor power in 4 patients and pain in 2 patients, although sensory disturbances remained unchanged in all but 1 patient. One patient's condition deteriorated secondarily due to edema and syringomyelia.


CONCLUSIONS
Microsurgical treatment may halt the exacerbation of neurological symptoms and should be performed with progressive deficits. Long-term results are good regarding the motor function.
Hassler
Werner
W
Department of Neurosurgery, Wedau Kliniken, Duisburg, Germany.
Al-Kahlout
Eyad
E
Schick
Uta
U
D000328:Adult; D018437:Brown-Sequard Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004388:Dura Mater; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006547:Hernia / Q000175:diagnosis; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome