Intraradicular, intervertebral disc herniation. A case report.

Abstract

A case of intraradicular, intervertebral disc herniation is reported. A rupture of en L5-S1 intervertebral disc into the left S1 nerve root is described. A review of the literature revealed five reported cases with some possible causes of this extremely rare phenomenon. The diagnosis was made at the time of surgery during exploration of the L5-S1 disc space. The S1 nerve root was found to be adherent to the underlying disc space. Before surgery, this condition was believed to represent a large extradural and extraradicular disc herniation. The patient's pain was alleviated almost immediately after surgery, but the patient was left with some residual sensory loss in the leg. An unusual case of intraradicular, intervertebral disc herniation is presented.