Intradural lumbar disc herniation

Intradural lumbar disc herniation is a rare pathological entity, first described by Dandy in 1942. Its pathogenesis has been a matter of discussion ever since (congenital adhaesions) of the dura mater to the posterior longitudinal ligament at the lower lumbar spine; weakness of the dura mater ventrally and at the axilla of the nerve root. About sixty cases have been described in the literature so far. At the Clinic of neurosurgery, University hospital Sisters of Mercy,Zagreb, 4000 cases were operated on over a 9-year period. Five of the cases were intradural disc herniations. All of them were located at the i.v. space level L4-L5 and L5-S1. Three of them were dorsomedial and two were dorsolateral, left-sided herniations. All were operated on and have a good recovery (three by interlaminectomy interarcuaris and two by left-sided interlaminectomy).