What is a thecal sac deformity?
Thecal sac is the outer covering of the spinal cord. This means there are bone spurs on the back of the spinal bones, putting pressure on or affecting the front part of the outer layer of the (neck) cervical spinal cord.
What does the thecal sac do?
The thecal sac contains the cerebrospinal fluid which provides nutrients and buoyancy to the spinal cord. From the skull the tube adheres to bone at the foramen magnum and extends down to the second sacral vertebra where it tapers to cover over the filum terminale.
What causes thecal sac effacement?
This is typically caused by some sort of trauma to the cervical spine, like an auto accident, sports injury, or damage from a large extruded disc. Thecal Sac Effacement: The thecal sac or dural sac is the membranous sheath (theca) or tube of dura mater that surrounds the spinal cord and the cauda equina.
What happens if thecal sac is compressed?
If there is central stenosis and marked compression of the entire dural/thecal sac, the patient may demonstrate paralysis (e.g., cauda equina syndrome) with sphincter loss (bladder and rectal dysfunction).
Does the thecal sac have nerves?
Neural Anatomy. The thecal sac ends blindly at the S2 level. The lower sacral and coccygeal nerves emerge from the sac, as does the extradural portion of the filum terminale. The most important derivatives of the sacral plexus are the sciatic and pudendal nerves.
Is a disc bulge serious?
Is it serious? Bulging disks increase the likelihood of a herniated disk, which can be painful, affect mobility, and limit a person’s daily functioning and quality of life. Bulging disks can also lead to weakness or numbness in the legs and poor bladder control.
What cancers cause spinal cord compression?
Cancers That May Lead to Spinal Cord Compression Spinal cord compression may be a complication of many forms of cancer, but the most common are breast cancer (29%), lung cancer (17%), and prostate cancer.
What is the function of the thecal sac?
The thecal sac is the protective membrane which surrounds the spinal cord and other vital neurological structures. This membrane insulates and protects the nerve tissues, as well as holding cerebral spinal fluid, much like a reservoir.
What does it mean when a herniated disc displaces thecal sac?
Herniated disc displacing the thecal sac. In all cases, this means that the bulging portion of the disc is making contact to some degree with the thecal membrane and enacting some force against the side wall of the structure. This will produce a noticeable deformity which can be visualized on diagnostic imaging.
What is thecal sac impingement and how does it affect mobility?
Thecal sac impingement is one of serious medical conditions that can affect your spine and your mobility. Since its mission is to insulate and protect all the sensitive nerve tissue in the spine, its malfunctioning can affect not only your mobility, but also cause significant discomfort and pain.
What happens if the thecal sac is damaged?
Since its mission is to insulate and protect all the sensitive nerve tissue in the spine, its malfunctioning can affect not only your mobility, but also cause significant discomfort and pain. Sometimes, the thecal sac becomes compressed by non-threatening causes; it is only temporary and it doesn’t cause major concern.