Aa
Fluid collection in posterior and left graft material L3-L5
I have had extensive lumbar surgery including bilateral vertebral body and pedicle screws at L2-3 and diskectomy fusion with magnetic susceptibility artifact at each disc space from L3-S1.
I have been having a lot of pain in my right hip extending to thigh and ankle. In addition, the pain sometimes is in the left side or across the back. Right leg seems weak. Also, headaches.
Recently had an MRI and this was the impression:
Multilevel surgical findings with mild right foramina crowding at L5-S1. Fluid like appearance in the posterior and left graft material especially at L3-mid L5. Small fluid collections are not excluded, which could be serous, posthemorrhagic, postsurgical, or postinfectious and/or inflammatory. These areas are not well defined on transverse plane images. Suggest stacked T2 images from L2-S1, sagittal stir images, and stacked postcontrast T1 images over the same area to better define.
What does this impression mean and/or indicate?
I have been having a lot of pain in my right hip extending to thigh and ankle. In addition, the pain sometimes is in the left side or across the back. Right leg seems weak. Also, headaches.
Recently had an MRI and this was the impression:
Multilevel surgical findings with mild right foramina crowding at L5-S1. Fluid like appearance in the posterior and left graft material especially at L3-mid L5. Small fluid collections are not excluded, which could be serous, posthemorrhagic, postsurgical, or postinfectious and/or inflammatory. These areas are not well defined on transverse plane images. Suggest stacked T2 images from L2-S1, sagittal stir images, and stacked postcontrast T1 images over the same area to better define.
What does this impression mean and/or indicate?
I'm so sorry. I just don't know the answers to your questions. Maybe someone else will. You've certainly had a hard way to go. Quix
Interpreting back MRI results is really not my speciality at all. I was a pediatrician. I've never been trained in it. I am specially bad at understanding the implications of the findings. Given that I will try
First I have never heard of "magnetic susceptibility artifact" What is it?
The MRI:
Evidence that there was surgery at many levels (this you knew, lol)
There is crowding (jamming together) of the openings between the different vetabrae that the nerves pass through to the legs and feet, some to the pelvic area.
In the region of the surgical grafting L3 down to the middle of L5 there are places that look like areas of fluid collection. These areas are not well seen so the radiologist can't really characterize them. The reading suggests any type of fluid from tissue ''weeping", to blood clollections, or pockets of infectious fluid (pus). The areas are just too unclear. These areas are in the back and toward the left of the surgical graft area.
The radiologist suggests a repeat MRI with T2 imaging which helps to characterize fluid from other tissue and speciffies just how the surgeon should order the imaging.
Did you have this pain in your legs and weakness before the surgery ? Also, when was the surgery?
I can't tell you what the implications of these findings are. I'm sorry. Quix
First I have never heard of "magnetic susceptibility artifact" What is it?
The MRI:
Evidence that there was surgery at many levels (this you knew, lol)
There is crowding (jamming together) of the openings between the different vetabrae that the nerves pass through to the legs and feet, some to the pelvic area.
In the region of the surgical grafting L3 down to the middle of L5 there are places that look like areas of fluid collection. These areas are not well seen so the radiologist can't really characterize them. The reading suggests any type of fluid from tissue ''weeping", to blood clollections, or pockets of infectious fluid (pus). The areas are just too unclear. These areas are in the back and toward the left of the surgical graft area.
The radiologist suggests a repeat MRI with T2 imaging which helps to characterize fluid from other tissue and speciffies just how the surgeon should order the imaging.
Did you have this pain in your legs and weakness before the surgery ? Also, when was the surgery?
I can't tell you what the implications of these findings are. I'm sorry. Quix
I have had extensive lumbar surgery including bilateral vertebral body and pedicle screws at L2-3 and diskectomy fusion with magnetic susceptibility artifact at each disc space from L3-S1.
I have been having a lot of pain in my right hip extending to thigh and ankle. In addition, the pain sometimes is in the left side or across the back. Right leg seems weak. Also, headaches.
Recently had an MRI and this was the impression:
Multilevel surgical findings with mild right foramina crowding at L5-S1. Fluid like appearance in the posterior and left graft material especially at L3-mid L5. Small fluid collections are not excluded, which could be serous, posthemorrhagic, postsurgical, or postinfectious and/or inflammatory. These areas are not well defined on transverse plane images. Suggest stacked T2 images from L2-S1, sagittal stir images, and stacked postcontrast T1 images over the same area to better define.
What does this impression mean and/or indicate?
I have been having a lot of pain in my right hip extending to thigh and ankle. In addition, the pain sometimes is in the left side or across the back. Right leg seems weak. Also, headaches.
Recently had an MRI and this was the impression:
Multilevel surgical findings with mild right foramina crowding at L5-S1. Fluid like appearance in the posterior and left graft material especially at L3-mid L5. Small fluid collections are not excluded, which could be serous, posthemorrhagic, postsurgical, or postinfectious and/or inflammatory. These areas are not well defined on transverse plane images. Suggest stacked T2 images from L2-S1, sagittal stir images, and stacked postcontrast T1 images over the same area to better define.
What does this impression mean and/or indicate?
My last surgery was two years ago. I have done fine until about 5-6 months ago. Then, it started and is getting worse.
Do you know....if it is CSF or pus or posthemorragic would that necessarily mean surgery again? Also, I have had a failed fusion before...just wondered if leakage could also mean the graft might not be in tact?
Thank you for your help.
Do you know....if it is CSF or pus or posthemorragic would that necessarily mean surgery again? Also, I have had a failed fusion before...just wondered if leakage could also mean the graft might not be in tact?
Thank you for your help.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Allentown, PA
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
