L5 root compression caused by degenerative spinal stenosis of the L1-L2 and L2-L3 spaces.

STUDY DESIGN

A severe bilateral L5 root lesion associated with spinal stenosis at L1-L2 and L2-L3 is described.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical findings and the difficulty in obtaining a correct diagnosis of L5 Root Compression.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The disorder reported in this study has not been reported previously. Only one similar case has been described in the literature: an L5 root compression at L1-L2 caused by disc herniation.

METHODS

Diagnosis was obtained by using computed tomography scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography myelography. The findings at L5-S1 were minimal to justify the patient's clinical symptoms, but a detailed study of the upper levels revealed spinal stenosis at L1-L2 and L2-L3, which could have been causing L5 and S1 root compression. A decompressive laminectomy and partial facetectomy in both levels were performed.

RESULTS

The patient's pain and claudication disappeared, and clinical symptoms associated with the right L5 root improved. The left L5 root deficit remained stable.

CONCLUSION

An unusual case of L5 root compression caused by degenerative stenosis of L1-L2 and L2-L3 is described.