[Lumbo-radicular pain caused by epidural lipomatosis in an obese patient: recovery after hypocaloric diet]

Abstract

The case reported concerns an obese patient suffering from lumbo-radicular intermittent claudication due to lumbar epidural lipomatosis. Compression was revealed by magnetic resonance imaging which showed the existence of a hypersignal in weighted sequences in T1 situated in the epidural space and narrowing the dural sheath. Three cases of lumbar epidural lipomatosis related to obesity have already been described. Treatment in all three was surgical with the result assessed as good in one case and poor in two. The interest of the present case is demonstration of the cause and effect relationship between epidural lipomatosis and obesity as shown by complete restoration of the epidural space after a calorie-controlled diet, and the possibility of successful treatment by this technique.