Orthopedics (76)

Cervical disc herniation in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain: a case report. (University of Pittsburg Medical center, Pittsburg, PA) Spine 2000;25:1726–1728. This report discussed the clinical manifestations and the treatment outcome of a patient with a known diagnosis of congenital insensitivity to pain who developed a herniated cervical disc. The patient had neurologic motor weakness with “neck and shoulder pain.” A clear radicular pattern could not be elicited. The patient underwent a successful anterior discectomy and fusion with long‐term clinical and radiographic results. Conclude that patients with congenital insensitivity to pain who develop a cervical disc herniation may present with atypical symptoms not manifesting in the classic radicular pattern. Higher index of suspicion by the clinician must be practiced to make the appropriate diagnosis. Successful surgical outcome may be achieved in these patients.