Spontaneously disappearing large herniated lumbar disc fragment

Abstract

There are reports of spontaneous regression of large extruded disc; however, the exact underlying mechanism and management of such cases remains controversial. We report a 40-year-old female who opted for conservative management for a large extruded lumbar disc. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed complete disappearance of the disc fragment; however, there were degenerative changes in the upper and lower adjacent margins of the vertebral body. Spine surgeons should be aware of spontaneous regression of the disc phenomenon as a patient with a large extruded disc who opted for the conservative management initially can have persistence pain, but there may not be an underlying protruded disc.