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L5/S1 disc protrusion

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Left leg pain

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Male

Lumbar spine MRI

mri

Vertebral height, alignment and bone marrow signal are unremarkable. The conus terminates at L1 and is normal in appearance.

T11/12 to L4/5: Normal 

L5/S1: The disc is somewhat desiccated and a sizable left posterolateral focal disc protrusion is present which severely compresses the descending S1 nerve root in the subarticular recess. The nerve roots distal to the compression is swollen. There is no significant canal narrowing, and only minor left-sided neural exit foraminal narrowing without impingement upon the exiting L5 nerve root.

Case Discussion

Typical appearances of a lumbar disc protrusion with clear cut compression of the S1 nerve root accounting for the patients sciatica.

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