A Case of Cauda Equina Arachnoiditis Ossificans and Review the Literature

Abstract

Arachnoiditis ossificans is a rare, chronic and progressive disease, especially cauda equina. Most of its causes are due to severe trauma or sequelae after spinal surgery, generally gradual calcification from the initial adhesive arachnoiditis to the end stage of ossified arachnoiditis. At present, the treatment of this rare disease standard is difficult to determine, and the clinical outcomes of conservative and surgical treatment options remain controversial. We present a 26-year-old female patient who was postoperative lumbar surgery for trauma, plain and reconstructive X-ray, CT and MRI images showed an ossified lesion within the master at the L5-S1 levels and compression of the left spinal canal at L4/5 level. We explored and decompressed spinal canal and released root nerves, while the calcified cauda equina nerve was not treated. Postoperative supportive treatment including detumescence, anti-inflammation, nutritional nerve and analgesia, the postoperative clinical course of the patient was good and the patient was very satisfied with the curative effect. This case, along with a review of literature is reported.