Abdominal pseudohernia caused by thoracic disk herniation: case series and review of the literature

Abstract

Intervertebral thoracic disk herniation (TDH) is a rare occurrence and presents with a wide variety of symptoms. Errors in diagnosis are thought to be frequent due to the variable clinical presentations. We herein present two unusual cases of TDH presenting with abdominal pseudohernias, abdominal pain, and hypoesthesia along the T11-T12 dermatomes due to TDH at the same level. Both patients were managed conservatively, using a combination of analgesics and muscle relaxants. At 10 months of follow-up, the first patient reported complete resolution of abdominal bulge and no residual pain. The second patient reported residual paresthesia of T11-T12 dermatome, with non-limiting back pain and almost complete resolution of abdominal bulge. In conclusion, TDH may present with an abdominal wall bulge mimicking hernia, hypoesthesia, and radicular pain along the affected dermatome. Conservative management can be considered as first-line treatment.