A Transverse Tri-Anastomotic Conjoined Nerve Root Discovered During a Lumbar Discectomy L5-S1

Abstract

Conjoined nerve root is an abnormality of nerve root. The incidence is between 0.3% and 30%. It arises during the fetal development of spine. The abnormality can be asymptomatic or produce lumbar back pain or radiculalgia. Sometimes it is diagnosed during spine surgery or in post mortem autopsy. Lack of diagnosis of conjoined nerve root may lead to surgical procedure failure and increase neurological injury. We present a case of a 52-year-old man who was operated for a lumbar discectomy with mixed L5 and S1 radiculopathy with a rare type of conjoined root nerve in shape of three anastomotic nerve roots.




J Neurol Res. 2017;7(3):63-64
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr415w