title: [Diagnosis and management for the non-traumatic epidural sequestered cervical disc extrusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical characteristics and management of non-traumatic epidural sequestered cervical disc extrusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to July 2011, the clinical data of 10 patients with non-traumatic epidural sequestered cervical disc extrusion were treated by anterior cervical mostly vertebraectomy and nucleus pulposus removal after decompression and internal fixation through longitudinal ligament resection. Of them,there were 6 males and 4 females with an average age of 48.2 years old (ranged from 42 to 65), the course of disease ranged from 1 month to 4 years (mean, 15 months). All patients manifested numbness and weakness of four limbs, unstable walking and sphincter of oddi dysfunction. Preoperative MRI showed segmental cervical spinal cord compression. JOA scoring criteria was applied to evaluate preoperative and follow-up neurologic function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 15 to 32 months, with an average of 21 months. No complications related to opreation occurred. Preoperative MRI showed nucelus puplposus sequestered longitudinal ligament were on equal signal on T1-weighted and corresponding pathological,while it showed equal and high signal on T2-weighted. JOA score were increased from 7.20 +/- 1.55 preoperative to 13.60 +/- 1.90 postoperative (t = -11.8, P < 0.001), and excellent in 3 cases, good in 6 cases and moderate in 1 case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior cervical mostly vertebraectomy and nucleus pulposus removal after decompression and internal fixation through longitudinal ligament resection after early diagnosis is the key to success of treating non-traumatic epidural sequestered cervical disc extrusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics ,Yijishan Hospital of Wan Nan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guo-Zheng
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Zhu-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography