J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2020 Jun;27(2):84-88. 10.4184/jkss.2020.27.2.84.

Adhesive Arachnoiditis of the Lumbar Spine after Endoscopic Discectomy - A Case Report -

• Ha DH
• Oh SK
• Kim BK

• KMID: 2503676
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2020.27.2.84

Abstract

Study Design: Case report.
Objective
We present a rare case of adhesive arachnoiditis that occurred after percutaneous endoscopic discectomy. Summary of Literature Review: Adhesive arachnoiditis can be caused by infection, trauma, surgery, and other iatrogenic injuries. Material and Methods: A 60-year-old man presented with acute onset of lower back pain, radiating to the right leg. His symptoms had developed 10 days previously without any trauma. He had a history of L4-5 percutaneous endoscopic discectomy 10 months ago. There was no evidence of infection in an examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from a spinal tap. However, magnetic resonance imaging showed peridural fibrosis, clumping of the nerve roots of the cauda equina with the pia mater, and dural enhancement at the L4-5 level.
Results
His symptoms disappeared after steroid pulse therapy.
Conclusions
Even minimally invasive surgery, such as endoscopic discectomy, can lead to adhesive arachnoiditis of the lumbar spine.

Keyword

Arachnoiditis; Percutaneous discectomy