What is disc sequestration?

What is disc sequestration?

• A. A free disc fragment with no attachment to the host disc
• B. A misfit fragment in the spinal canal
• C. A herniation that remains attached to the host disc
• D. A fragment within PLL

Answer: (A)

Disc sequestration is when a piece of intervertebral disc breaks completely away from the main disc and becomes a free fragment floating in the spinal canal. The crucial feature is that there is no attachment to the host disc anymore, so the fragment can move and press on nerve structures independently. This distinguishes it from a protrusion, where the bulge remains attached to the disc, and from an extrusion, where a fragment has herniated through the annulus but still maintains some connection to the disc. The fragment may lie within the posterior longitudinal ligament or roam in the canal, but the defining idea is the complete separation from the parent disc. Clinically, a sequestrated fragment often causes acute nerve root compression and may require surgical removal if symptoms are significant.

Disc sequestration is when a piece of intervertebral disc breaks completely away from the main disc and becomes a free fragment floating in the spinal canal. The crucial feature is that there is no attachment to the host disc anymore, so the fragment can move and press on nerve structures independently. This distinguishes it from a protrusion, where the bulge remains attached to the disc, and from an extrusion, where a fragment has herniated through the annulus but still maintains some connection to the disc. The fragment may lie within the posterior longitudinal ligament or roam in the canal, but the defining idea is the complete separation from the parent disc. Clinically, a sequestrated fragment often causes acute nerve root compression and may require surgical removal if symptoms are significant.