J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2014 Sep;21(3):129-133. 10.4184/jkss.2014.21.3.129.

Conus Medullaris Syndrome Caused by Delayed Recollapse after Surgery of Burst Fracture: A Case Report

• Soh JW
• Lee JC
• Seo JM
• Shin BJ

• KMID: 2144775
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2014.21.3.129

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A case report.
OBJECTIVES
Lumbar burst fracture was treated with operation, which delayed recollapse of L1 and led to conus medullaris syndrome. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: After operation, conus medullaris syndrome causing by delayed recollapse is not frequently reported.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A 56-year-old male was admitted with lower back pain caused by a fall. Radiologic findings showed L1 burst fracture with about 42% of height loss. There was no neurologic deficit. Posterior fusion was performed using instrumentation. Five weeks after the operation, the patient was admitted for urination and defecation difficulty. Radiologic findings showed that the L1 had recollapsed with about 38% of height loss. To resolve the problem, anterior surgery was performed.
RESULTS
Two years after surgery, bladder and anal sphincter dysfunction wasn't recovered.
CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar burst fracture should be follow up carefully until union of the fracture because burst fracture leads to delayed recollapse.

Keyword

Lumbar spine; Conus medullaris syndrome; Burst fracture; Recollapse

MeSH Terms

Anal Canal
Defecation
Humans
Low Back Pain
Male
Middle Aged
Neurologic Manifestations
Spinal Cord Compression*
Urinary Bladder
Urination