Is dural ectasia painful?

Is dural ectasia painful?

Dural ectasia can cause radicular pain in the buttocks and legs; nerve root paralysis affecting bowel and bladder function and motor function in the legs; and dull, unremitting discomfort in the lower abdomen and pelvis.

What is dural canal?

The spinal canal in cross-section; the outer layer of the thecal sac, the dura, is colored green and the subarachnoid space is blue. Anatomical terminology. The thecal sac or dural sac is the membranous sheath (theca) or tube of dura mater that surrounds the spinal cord and the cauda equina.

What is the dural sac?

Dural sac: The membranous sac that encases the spinal cord within the bony structure of the vertebral column. Dural refers to the dura, the name of the membrane around the spinal cord (and brain, too).

How is dural ectasia diagnosis?

Dural ectasia can be detected by CT or MRI scans. Although dural ectasia is a characteristic feature of Marfan syndrome, it might also be present in other connective tissue disorders such as Loeys-Dietz syndrome or vascular Ehler-Danlos syndrome (Loeys et al., 2010).

What does dural ectasia feel like?

Based on our findings, a “classic” picture of dural ectasia in the Marfan patient may consist of low back pain, headache, proximal leg pain, weakness and numbness above and below the knee, and genital/rectal pain.

What is lumbosacral dural ectasia?

Specialty. Neurology. Dural ectasia is widening or ballooning of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord. This usually occurs in the lumbosacral region, as this is where the cerebrospinal fluid pressure is greatest, but the spinal canal can be affected in any plane.

How is dural ectasia treated?

Currently, dural ectasia is treated primarily with pain medications. Unfortunately, it is not possible to replace the dura like it is the aorta. In extreme cases, surgical treatment of “sacs” of dural ectasia may be needed. Consult with your orthopedist and pain specialist on the best way to manage your symptoms.

What is dural ectasia?

Dural ectasia-refers to ballooning or widening of the dural sac and is associated with herniation of nerve root sleeves. Greater than normal volume of CSF in the lumbar theca is postulated to restrict the spread of the intrathecally injected LA and is thought to be one of the main reason for spinal anaesthesia failure.

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