Hydrogel implant causing lumbar radiculopathy: a case report

Abstract

Objective: One of the new treatment methods for lumbar degenerative disc disease is percutaneous application of a hydrogel implant into the intervertebral disc. The aim of this method is to increase the disc height, to widen the neural foramen, and to decrease discogenic pain and leg pain caused by root compression. However, there may be serious complications related to intervertebral hydrogel implants that have been increasingly used during the last few years because of their minimally-invasive nature. A case with lumbar root compression due to hydrogel implant is being reported.Case Report: A 61-year-old male was admitted with severe left leg pain due to compression of the left L5 root by a hydrogel implant that had been percutaneously introduced into the L4-5 disc level 6 months ago.On magnetic resonance imaging, a lesion compressing the left L5 root at the L4-5 disc level and mimicking a disc herniation was seen. It was hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted sections. Sonuç: İntervertebral hidrojel implant komşu dokulardan su çekerek şişer. Aslında disk yüksekliğinin artmasını sağlayan asıl mekanizma da budur. Ancak eğer çok fazla şişerse, spinal kanal içine taşıp kök ya da dural kese basısına ve nörolojik bulgulara neden olabilir.

Clinical results of intradiscal hydrogel administiration (Gelstixtm) in lumbar degenerative discus disease

“…In 2 previous case reports, the medical history of the 2 patients involved revealed signs of disc compression and radiculopathy prior to the procedure, and their symptoms intensified after 4 and 6 months. This finding suggests that both patients had a broad-base protruding disc and a degenerated annulus fibrosis defect before the procedure [9,17].…”