Presentation
Sudden onset lower back pain radiating into the left leg reduced range of movement in lower limbs. Severe ongoing pain, numbness in the left leg with power of 4+/5. No better with strong analgesia, weight-bearing only for short periods, no bladder or bowel dysfunction, no saddle anesthesia. Prolapsed disc?
Patient Data
Large focal foraminal disc prolapse at L5/S1 impinging on the exiting left L5 nerve root in the lateral recess/exit foramen.
Minor diffuse disc bulges at L3/L4 and L4/L5. No canal or exit foraminal stenosis.
The remaining disc levels are normal.
Case Discussion
Foraminal discs are one of the less commonly identified disc prolapses and are infrequent at the L5/S1 level. The disc clearly impinges on the L5 nerve root in the foramen.