Loss of Disc Height after Spontaneous Regression of a Herniated Lumbar Disc - A Case Report -

Hyoung Bok Kim; Hoon-Jae Chung

doi:10.4184/jkss.2018.25.4.175

Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.25(Suppl 1) > 1110864

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Kim and Chung: Loss of Disc Height after Spontaneous Regression of a Herniated Lumbar Disc - A Case Report -

Case Report

Journal of Korean Spine Surg 2018;25(4):175-179.

Published online: 31 December 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2018.25.4.175

Loss of Disc Height after Spontaneous Regression of a Herniated Lumbar Disc - A Case Report -

Hyoung Bok Kim, M.D., Hoon-Jae Chung, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bumin Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Hyoung Bok Kim, M.D. ORCID ID: Hyoung Bok Kim: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6798-6386 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bumin Hospital, 389, Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07590, Korea TEL: +82-2-2620-0003, FAX: +82-2-2620-0100 E-mail: esshappy@daum.net

Received 16 September 201818 October 2018 Accepted 8 November 2018

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Study Design

Case report.

Objectives

We report 3 cases of loss of disc height after spontaneous regression of a herniated lumbar disc.

Summary of Literature Review

Reports of spontaneous regression of a herniated lumbar disc were identified.

Materials and Methods

We conservatively treated 3 patients who were diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc. During outpatient follow-up, radiating pain improved in all patients, but they complained of chronic lower back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for diagnostic purposes.

Results

On MRI, spontaneous regression of the herniated lumbar discs was observed, but loss of disc height was also found.

Conclusions

A herniated lumbar disc may be a risk factor for loss of disc height. It is important to recognize that a patient with a herniated lumbar disc can struggle with chronic lower back pain even if spontaneous regression of the herniated lumbar disc occurs.

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Keywords: Spontaneous regression, Herniated lumbar disc, Loss of disc height

REFERENCES

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Fig. 1.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. (A) Initial MRI, showing a large area of disc extrusion at the L4/5 disc space. (B) MRI taken 2 years after the initial MRI, showing spontaneous regression of the herniated lumbar disc and loss of disc height.

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Fig. 2.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. (A) Initial MRI, showing a large area of disc extrusion at the L4/5 disc space. (B) MRI taken 3 years after the initial MRI, showing spontaneous regression of the herni-ated lumbar disc and loss of disc height.

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Fig. 3.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. (A) Initial MRI, showing a large area of disc extrusion at the L4/5 foraminal area. (B) MRI taken 2 years after the initial MRI, showing spontaneous regression of the herniated lumbar disc and loss of disc height.

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