BRAIN TUMORSANEURYSMSVASCULAR MALFORMATIONSTRIGEMINAL NEURALGIASPINE NECK BACKPARKINSONS DISEASEHEMIFACIAL SPASMCARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME


Case Presentation:

Degenerative Disk Disease - Case 1


History & Physical

  • 71-year-old man with a long history of low back pain, however, with increasing vehemence over the past year with 10/10 intensity on Visual Analogue Scale and the development of pain radiating in the posterior aspect of both thighs.

  • His neurological examination was normal with no weakness, or numbness of the lower extremities, however, significant pain with range of motion of the lumbar spine.

 



Imaging


Case 1 Image 1
Plain flexion-extension x-rays of the lumbar spine show no instability, but instead significant degenerative disk disease at L3-L4 level.

    Case 1 Image 2
    MRI scan of the lumbar spine confirms significant degenerative disk disease at L3-L4 level (Modic type II changes at L3-L4 level).

    Case 1 Image 3

    CT SPECT of the lumbar spine confirms significant degenerative disk disease at L3-L4 level (MDP uptake at L3-L4 level)
    .




    Surgical Procedure

     

    • After a comprehensive battery of conservative measures, he underwent PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Inter-body Fusion) at L3-L4 level.

    Case 1 Image 4



    Post-op Course

     

    • He did well postoperatively with immediate improvement of his function and was discharged home. Patient’s low back pain and thigh pain completely resolved postoperatively.