Spontaneously resorbed lumbar disc herniation: two case reports

It has been reported that patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), particularly those without severe symptoms, may benefit from conservative treatment, and spontaneous resorption of herniated discs can occur in the natural course of some LDH cases. In this study, two patients with disc herniation were discussed: one with a right lateral recess at L3-4, causing compression of the right L4 nerve root, and the other with a left lateral recess at L2-3, causing compression of the left L3 nerve root. Both patients exhibited no significant neurologic or functional deficits other than radicular pain. MRI images of both patients revealed that the herniated disc material had migrated within the spinal canal, and the T2 signal intensity was increased; therefore, these herniated discs were considered to be soft. Both patients underwent conservative treatment. Follow-up MRI images showed complete disappearance of the herniated disc material at five months for one patient and at nine months for the other. In conclusion, conservative treatment methods should be preferred for LDH patients without severe symptoms. Furthermore, the herniated disc material may undergo resorption and even completely disappear with close follow-up of this patient group.