Abstract
We report a case that had symptoms of lower extremity contralateral to the side of lumbar disc herniation. The patient, 84-year old man, found it impossible to stand up after a bath due to weakness, pain, and numbness in both legs. Symptoms of the left leg were severer than those of the right. A diagnosis of spinal canal stenosis and right lateral disc herniation at L4/5 level was confirmed by MRI, myelogram and CTM. The flavum of the right side at L4/5 level was thick and hard, and the bilateral face tjoints were asymmetrical. These factors resulted in segmental canal stenosis contralateral to the side of disc herniation. The authors concluded that the left side of cauda equina was entrapped between the right lateral disc herniation and the left facet joint at L4/5.
The authors performed fenestration at L4/5 level and removed the herniated disc material. After the operation, the pain disappeared, and numbness and weakness of the leg improved. Three months later, the patient was able to walk smoothly.
