[Operative treatment for lumbar disc protrusion with fragment of nucleus pulposus in the dural sac].

Four cases of lumbar disc protrusion with fragments of nucleus pulposus in the dural sac are reported, representing 0.3% of 1555 cases surgically treated over the past 35 years. All four cases were severely affected with distinct clinical manifestations of prolapsed disc, acute onset or sudden deterioration, pain, numbness, weakness, partial or complete paraplegia, and disturbances of urination and defecation accompanied by symptoms of severe and extensive spinal stenosis. They were treated with total laminectomy, section of dural sac, separation of adhesion and removal of fragments of nucleus pulposus. The results were excellent in one, Good in two and fair in one patient as revealed by the follow-up study which ranged from 4 months to 6 years. The clinical features, pathology, cause of prolapse, diagnosis, some points for attention concerning its management as well as that of adhesive arachnoiditis are discussed.