Korean J Spine.  2015 Dec;12(4):272-274. 10.14245/kjs.2015.12.4.272.

Cauda Equina Syndrome Caused by Idiopathic Epidural Lipomatosis

• Kim YS
• Ju CI
• Kim SW
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2288375
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2015.12.4.272

Abstract

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare condition that presents as a back pain with progressive neurologic symptoms. Most affected patients are obese and receiving steroid therapy, or have an endocrinopathies. We report a rare case of cauda equina syndrome caused by SEL in a non-obese healthy young man without any evident traumatic episode. A healthy 19-year-old man, who had experienced lower back pain for two months, visited our emergency room because of the sudden development of motor weakness and voiding difficulty. Lumbar magnetic resonance image revealed extradural fat compressing the cauda equina. Urgent decompression via posterior laminectomy and excision of excess epidural fat resulted in an immediate symptom improvement.

Keyword

Cauda equina syndrome; Epidural; Lipomatosis

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Cauda Equina*
Decompression
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Laminectomy
Lipomatosis*
Low Back Pain
Neurologic Manifestations
Polyradiculopathy*
Young Adult