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What does flattening of the ventral thecal sac mean?
Thecal Sac Compression – The spinal cord and nerves are also protected by a membrane filled with cerebral spinal fluid known as the thecal sac or dural sac. Flattening or compression of the thecal sac will occur in other conditions that cause pressure or pinching of the spinal cord, such as stenosis.
What happens if thecal sac is compressed?
If there is central stenosis and marked compression of the entire dural/thecal sac, the patient may demonstrate paralysis (e.g., cauda equina syndrome) with sphincter loss (bladder and rectal dysfunction).
What is flattening of the spinal cord?
Causes of Myelopathy As you age, inflammation, arthritic illness, bone spurs and the flattening of the spinal discs between the vertebrae can put pressure on the spinal cord and the nerve roots.
How serious is flattening of the spinal cord?
Without treatment, spinal cord compression can cause damage to the spinal nerves, which can result in loss of bladder or bowel control or paralysis. If you experience sudden inability to control your bladder or bowels, or if you have severe weakness or numbness, you should seek medical care immediately.
What does the thecal sac do?
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. The thecal sac contains the cerebrospinal fluid which provides nutrients and buoyancy to the spinal cord.
Does thecal sac effacement cause pain?
This bulging material may contact or “pinch” the thecal sac or nerve roots. There are a variety of symptoms n a case like the one above. Some people may experience little to no discomfort, while others may have severe radicular pain, which travels to the shoulder blade, down the arm and into the hand or fingers.
Is spinal cord compression a disability?
Anyone with a spinal cord injury can file a claim for Social Security disability benefits as long as the injury has lasted at least three months and is expected to make it impossible for you to work for at least 12 months.
What are the symptoms of spinal cord problem?
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Disorder
- Weakness or paralysis of limbs.
- Loss of sensation.
- Changes in reflexes.
- Loss of urinary or bowel control.
- Uncontrolled muscle spasms.
- Back pain.
Will I end up in a wheelchair with spinal stenosis?
The symptoms are often so gradual, that patients seek medical attention very late in the course of this condition. Patients may be so disabled and weak that they require the use of a wheelchair for mobility. In rare instances, severe spinal stenosis can cause paraplegia and/or bowel/bladder incontinence.
What causes thecal sac narrowing?
The causes of spinal stenosis include bulging or herniated disk, facet arthropathy, and thickening and buckling of the interlaminar ligaments. All these inciting factors tend to worsen with age.
What happens if you let spinal stenosis go untreated?
It occurs from spinal stenosis that causes pressure on the spinal cord. If untreated, this can lead to significant and permanent nerve damage including paralysis and death. Symptoms may affect your gait and balance, dexterity, grip strength and bowel or bladder function.
What does effacement of the thecal sac?
Effacement means obliterating or erasing while right neural to the Intervertebral foramen: an opening between vertebrae through which nerves leave the spine and extend to other parts of the body.