Lumbar microdiscectomy during first trimester of pregnancy: Surgical, anesthetic, and radiation considerations with review of reported cases

Authors

• Zara Ismail, Aga Khan University
• Mehar Masroor, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
• Osama Salar, Frontier Medical and Dental College, Pakistan
• Dr Saqib Kamran Bakhshi, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Case Report

Department

Neurosurgery

Abstract

Background: Lumbar disc herniation requiring surgical intervention during pregnancy is rare, particularly during the first trimester. Here, we highlight the pros and cons of performing a microdiscectomy (MD) during the first trimester for a pregnant 27-year-old female.
Case description: A 27-year-old pregnant female in her first trimester presented with a progressive right foot drop secondary to an L5-S1 disc herniation. After failing 6 weeks of conservative management, she underwent right L5-S1 MD under general anesthesia in the prone position. Maternal hemodynamic stability was maintained throughout the procedure, and fluoroscopy was limited to a single image. Postoperatively, motor strength improved with rehabilitation, and she subsequently delivered a healthy full-term infant without obstetric or neonatal complications.
Conclusion: Medically and neurosurgically indicated lumbar MD should be appropriately performed in patients in their first trimester of pregnancy.

Comments

Issue no. was not provided by author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

Surgical neurology international

DOI

10.25259/SNI_872_2026

Recommended Citation

Ismail, Z., Masroor, M., Salar, O., Kamran Bakhshi, D. (2026). Lumbar microdiscectomy during first trimester of pregnancy: Surgical, anesthetic, and radiation considerations with review of reported cases. Surgical neurology international, 17, 1-3.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_surg_neurosurg/440