J Trauma Inj, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2021.0083 · Published: March 1, 2022
Foot drop is a condition where it is difficult to lift the front part of the foot due to muscle weakness or paralysis. This is often caused by nerve damage in the leg or spine. This case report describes a rare instance where a patient experienced bilateral foot drop (both feet) due to an infection in the spine (spondylitis) at the T12 vertebra, which occurred after a vertebroplasty procedure. The patient underwent surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord and stabilize the spine. Following the surgery, the patient's leg strength improved, and they were able to walk without assistance.
Clinicians should consider infectious spondylitis at the thoracolumbar junction in patients presenting with atypical neurological symptoms such as bilateral foot drop, especially after vertebroplasty.
Surgical decompression and reconstruction can be an effective treatment option for patients with bilateral foot drop caused by spinal cord compression due to infectious spondylitis.
A thorough understanding of the conus medullaris and nerve root anatomy at the T12-L1 level is crucial for diagnosing and treating patients with atypical neurological symptoms resulting from lesions in this region.