J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2021; 82(02): 182-185
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712501
Case Report

Spontaneous Regression of a Giant Traumatic Herniated Thoracic Disk: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Adelaide Valluzzi
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara, Modena, Italy
,
Thomas Sorenson
2   Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
,
Davide Nasi
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara, Modena, Italy
,
Nicola Acciarri
3   Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
,
Giorgio Palandri
3   Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
,
Giacomo Pavesi
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara, Modena, Italy
› Institutsangaben

Abstract

Thoracic disk herniation (TDH) after traumatic injury is a relatively uncommon disease with few cases reported in the literature. Herniated disks in this location typically may result in progressive myelopathy and refractory pain. In the presence of these symptoms, surgical treatment may be indicated since spontaneous regression in this area is less common than that of disk herniations in the cervical or lumbar spine. Herein, we present the case of giant traumatic TDH that occurred at the T9–T10 level and spontaneously resolved after 5 months.

We highlight the fact that regression of a herniated disk at the thoracic level may occur even in the absence of treatment. When considering this phenomenon, conservative management of these cases with clinical and radiological monitoring may be an appropriate first-line management for patients without signs of progressive myelopathy or severe refractory pain.



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 28. April 2019

Angenommen: 20. Dezember 2019

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
01. Dezember 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
  • References

  • 1 Carson J, Gumpert J, Jefferson A. Diagnosis and treatment of thoracic intervertebral disc protrusions. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1971; 34 (01) 68-77
  • 2 Fuentes S, Metellus P, Dufour H, Grisoli F. Traumatic thoracic disc herniation. Case illustration. J Neurosurg 2001; 95 (02) 276
  • 3 Jirout J, Kunc Z. Traumatic herniation of the thoracic intervertebral disc. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1960; 8: 88-93
  • 4 McInerney J, Ball PA. The pathophysiology of thoracic disc disease. Neurosurg Focus 2000; 9 (04) e1
  • 5 Wood KB, Blair JM, Aepple DM. et al. The natural history of asymptomatic thoracic disc herniations. Spine 1997; 22 (05) 525-529 , discussion 529–530
  • 6 Shirzadi A, Drazin D, Jeswani S, Lovely L, Liu J. Atypical presentation of thoracic disc herniation: case series and review of the literature. Case Rep Orthop 2013; 2013: 621476
  • 7 Autio RA, Karppinen J, Niinimäki J. et al. Determinants of spontaneous resorption of intervertebral disc herniations. Spine 2006; 31 (11) 1247-1252
  • 8 Okada Y, Shimizu K, Ido K, Kotani S. Multiple thoracic disc herniations: case report and review of the literature. Spinal Cord 1997; 35 (03) 183-186
  • 9 Ahmad FU, Schallert E, Bregy A, Post JD, Vanni S. Disappearing large calcified thoracic disc herniation in a patient with thalassaemia. BMJ Case Rep 2016; 2016: 28
  • 10 Coevoet V, Benoudiba F, Lignières C, Saïd G, Doyon D. Régression spontanée et complète en irm d'une hernie discale dorsale. J Radiol 1997; 78 (02) 149-151
  • 11 Eap C, Bennis S, Blauwblomme T. et al. Spontaneous resorption of thoracic calcified disc herniation: report of two cases and review of the literature. Neurochirurgie 2012; 58 (06) 353-357
  • 12 Haro H, Domoto T, Maekawa S, Horiuchi T, Komori H, Hamada Y. Resorption of thoracic disc herniation. Report of 2 cases. J Neurosurg Spine 2008; 8 (03) 300-304
  • 13 Martinez-Quinones JV, Aso-Escario J, Consolini F, Arregui-Calvo R. Regresiòn espontànea de hernias discales intervertebrales. A propòsito de una serie de 37 casos. Neurocirurgìa. 2010; 21: 108-117
  • 14 Morandi X, Crovetto N, Carsin-Nicol B, Carsin M, Brassier G. Spontaneous disappearance of a thoracic disc hernia. Neurochirurgie 1999; 45 (02) 155-159
  • 15 Piccirilli M, Lapadula G, Caporlingua F, Martini S, Santoro A. Spontaneous regression of a thoracic calcified disc herniation in a young female: a case report and literature review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2012; 114 (06) 779-781
  • 16 Sari H, Misirlioglu TO, Palamar D. Regression of a symptomatic thoracic disc herniation with a calcified intervertebral disc component. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2016; 50 (06) 698-701
  • 17 Barbanera A, Serchi E, Fiorenza V, Nina P, Andreoli A. Giant calcified thoracic herniated disc: considerations aiming a proper surgical strategy. J Neurosurg Sci 2009; 53 (01) 19-25 , discussion 25–26