Pediatric lumbar disc herniation: A case series on diagnosis and management

Abstract

Pediatric disc herniation is an uncommon but significant illness in children that can cause debilitating symptoms. The prevalence rate of lumbar disc herniation in this group is unknown. We present 4 rare cases of lumbar disc herniation in children. All patients complained from low back pain with radiation to the corresponding leg along with other neurological manifestations. Trauma and family history for all patients were negative. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed for all patients and confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. All patients were treated conservatively without any improvement, thus surgical intervention (minimally invasive discectomy with foraminotomy) was performed. The importance of early identification and adequate care in pediatric patients with lumbar disc herniation cannot be overstated. More study is needed to better understand the risk factors, pathophysiology, and best treatments for this illness in children and adolescents.

Keywords

• Lumbar disc herniation
• Discectomy
• Laminectomy
• Pediatrics
• Disc prolapse