An unusual finding in nerve root compression at L5 caused by herniated disc.

The authors describe the severe changes observed in the L5 nerve root in a patient aged 46 years with lumbar disc herniation at L4-L5. The lesions observed in the nerve root made it unrecognisable, thus we could not be certain that we were actually dealing with a nerve root until it was confirmed by histological examination. The severe macroscopic and microscopic changes observed had resulted in complete loss of function in the nerve root, so its removal did not cause any changes in the neurological, clinical or electromyographic pictures.