Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability

Introduction. Epidural lipomatosis is most frequently observed in patients on chronic steroid treatment. Only a few idiopathic epidural lipomatosis cases have been described. Material and Methods. 64-year-old male patient presented with low back pain and left leg pain. Later, the patient experienced...

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Main Authors: David Ruiz Picazo, José Ramírez Villaescusa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Orthopedics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3094601
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author David Ruiz Picazo
José Ramírez Villaescusa
author_facet David Ruiz Picazo
José Ramírez Villaescusa
author_sort David Ruiz Picazo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Epidural lipomatosis is most frequently observed in patients on chronic steroid treatment. Only a few idiopathic epidural lipomatosis cases have been described. Material and Methods. 64-year-old male patient presented with low back pain and left leg pain. Later, the patient experienced neurogenic claudication and radicular pain in the left leg without urinary dysfunction. Plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an abnormal fat tissue overgrowth in the epidural space with compression of the dural sac, degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 level, and instability at L5-S1. Endocrinopathic diseases and chronic steroid therapy were excluded. If conservative treatment failed, surgical treatment can be indicated. Results. After surgery, there was a gradual improvement in symptoms and signs, and six months later the patient returned to daily activities and was neurologically normal. Conclusion. In the absence of common causes of neurogenic claudication, epidural lipomatosis should be considered. The standard test for the diagnosis of epidural lipomatosis is magnetic resonance (MR). At first, conservative treatment must be considered; weight loss and the suspension of prior corticosteroid therapy are indicated. In the presence of neurological impairment, the operative treatment of wide surgical decompression must be performed soon after diagnosis.
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spelling doaj-art-de9c46c32fa54097ba87544cb48df5ee2025-02-03T05:53:04ZengWileyCase Reports in Orthopedics2090-67492090-67572016-01-01201610.1155/2016/30946013094601Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral InstabilityDavid Ruiz Picazo0José Ramírez Villaescusa1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Hermanos Falco 36, Albacete, 02006 Castilla La Mancha, SpainDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Hermanos Falco 36, Albacete, 02006 Castilla La Mancha, SpainIntroduction. Epidural lipomatosis is most frequently observed in patients on chronic steroid treatment. Only a few idiopathic epidural lipomatosis cases have been described. Material and Methods. 64-year-old male patient presented with low back pain and left leg pain. Later, the patient experienced neurogenic claudication and radicular pain in the left leg without urinary dysfunction. Plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an abnormal fat tissue overgrowth in the epidural space with compression of the dural sac, degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 level, and instability at L5-S1. Endocrinopathic diseases and chronic steroid therapy were excluded. If conservative treatment failed, surgical treatment can be indicated. Results. After surgery, there was a gradual improvement in symptoms and signs, and six months later the patient returned to daily activities and was neurologically normal. Conclusion. In the absence of common causes of neurogenic claudication, epidural lipomatosis should be considered. The standard test for the diagnosis of epidural lipomatosis is magnetic resonance (MR). At first, conservative treatment must be considered; weight loss and the suspension of prior corticosteroid therapy are indicated. In the presence of neurological impairment, the operative treatment of wide surgical decompression must be performed soon after diagnosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3094601
spellingShingle David Ruiz Picazo
José Ramírez Villaescusa
Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability
Case Reports in Orthopedics
title Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability
title_full Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability
title_fullStr Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability
title_full_unstemmed Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability
title_short Unusual Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis and Lumbosacral Instability
title_sort unusual spinal epidural lipomatosis and lumbosacral instability
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3094601
work_keys_str_mv AT davidruizpicazo unusualspinalepidurallipomatosisandlumbosacralinstability
AT joseramirezvillaescusa unusualspinalepidurallipomatosisandlumbosacralinstability