Cauda Equina Dural Sac Hernia Caused by the Drainage Tube After Lumbar Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy Surgery: A Case Report

Previously reported cases of cauda equina herniation primarily involve compression of the spinal cord caused by fracture fragments intruding into the spinal canal following traumatic spinal burst fractures or by dural tears occurring during spinal endoscopic surgery. Such cases can often be evaluated preoperatively or intraoperatively to facilitate the selection of an appropriate treatment plan. However, cauda equina herniation resulting from the use of a drainage tube following spinal endoscopic surgery has not yet been reported. In this article, we present a case of a 76-year-old male patient who experienced a dural tear resulting in cauda equina herniation due to the positioning of the drainage tube following an L4/5 lumbar unilateral biportal endoscopy procedure. This case highlights the importance of timely surgery following cauda equina herniation and provides guidance for intraoperative procedures and perioperative management of patients undergoing spinal endoscopic surgery.