[Paraplegia with a cauda equina syndrome due to stenosis of the spinal canal caused by tabes arthropathy]. / Paraplésie avec syndrome de la queue de cheval due a une sténose du canal rachidien par arthropatie tabétique.

The authors present a case of cauda equina paraparesis due to compression by tabetic osteo-arthropathy. Diagnosis was confirmed by the typical clinical picture of tabes and by the history of a chancre 53 years earlier. Radiography of the spine showed vertibral osteo-arthropathy. Opaque contrast myelography showed compression at the D 11/D 12 and L 4/L 5 levels, with poor contrast filling athe the L 1/L 3 level. Surgical treatment by decompressive laminectomies from D 12 to L 4 led to a satisfactory result with motor recovery and regression of the cauda equina syndrome.

[Sciatica and occult sacral meningocele]. / Sciatique et méningocèle sacrée occulte

The authors present the case of a 43-years-old man who had suffered from back pain for 7 to 8 years followed by sciatic. X-rays showed an abnormal sacral cavity extending from S1 to S3. Wtih the suspicion of an occult sacral meningocoele, Dimer X radiculography showed a cystic formation at S2 which only partially filled the sacral cavity. There was also an L5-S1 disc protrusion. At operation, after exploration of the roots on both sides, it was possible to remove a disc herniation at L5-S1 on the right. Laminectomy of S1 and opening of the posterior wall of the sacral canal at S2 and S3 revealed a large cyst of epidural location, touching both S1 roots superiorly and situated behind the communicating cystic cavity seen at radiculography. Histological examination of the sacral cyst showed it to be a dura mater structure, in fact anon-communicating meningocoele.