Initial Clinical Signs of Naka’s Grade III Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis: A Case Series

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Tomás Ignacio Erausquin
José A. Rosado Pardo
Jean Marc Vital
Aníbal José Sarotto
Micaela Besse

Abstract

Introduction: Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare pathology characterized by the overgrowth of nonencapsulated adipose tissue within the epidural space. This generates spinal stenosis, which might result in compression symptoms. The typical presentation is insidious pain that lasts months or years. The objective of this study was to carry out a descriptive analysis of the initial clinical signs of patients with Naka’s grade III lumbar SEL.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective observational study in the Spinal Pathology Unit of 4 institutions, from 2010 to 2023. Patients over the age of 18, of both sexes, who consulted for low back pain with or without radiation and presented Naka’s grade III lumbar lipomatosis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included.
Results: We included 40 patients, with a mean age of 62.5 years; 75% were obese, there were no smokers. The most frequent reason for consultation was low back pain, with a median duration of 5.5 months.
Conclusions: The most common reason for consultation was low back pain, with the exception of L3-S1 level involvement, which caused lumbar pain with radiation to the thigh. Patients with a longer period of pain (>6 months) were younger and had a lower BMI; although this was not statistically significant.

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How to Cite
Erausquin, T. I., Rosado Pardo, J. A., Vital, J. M., Sarotto, A. J., & Besse, M. (2024). Initial Clinical Signs of Naka’s Grade III Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis: A Case Series. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 89(1), 6-14. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2024.89.1.1808
Section
Clinical Research
Author Biographies

Tomás Ignacio Erausquin, Spinal Pathology Unit, Clínica Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Spinal Pathology Unit, Clínica Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina

José A. Rosado Pardo, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Sanatorio Victorio Franchín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Sanatorio Victorio Franchín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jean Marc Vital, Spinal Pathology Unit, Pellegrin Hospital, Bordeaux, France

Spinal Pathology Unit, Pellegrin Hospital, Bordeaux, France

Aníbal José Sarotto, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Sanatorio Victorio Franchín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Sanatorio Victorio Franchín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Micaela Besse, Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Sanatorio Victorio Franchín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Spinal Pathology Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Sanatorio Victorio Franchín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

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