Case 1:
A 78-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of progressive low back mechanical pain associated with low right limb paraesthesia. She has no history of trauma or spinal surgery. The lumbar spine range of motion was limited (Schober’s test = 10mm) and the Leri test was positive. The neuromuscular examination was unremarkable. Biochemical investigations were normal.
The plain X-ray of the spine showed disc space narrowing at L4-L5 and L5-S1. Computed tomography (CT) visualized a degenerated L4-L5 disc with a vacuum phenomenon as well as a moderate protrusion at L5-S1 space. A gas bubble was noticed in the right lateral recess at L4-L5 with probable evidence of right L4 root compression (Fig 1).
The patient was treated conservatively with analgesics combined with spine rehabilitation.