Cauda equina syndrome secondary to an improperly placed nucleotome probe.

Automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy has been shown to be a low morbidity procedure in the treatment of contained herniated lumbar discs. Described in this paper is a complication, i.e., a cauda equina syndrome secondary to a Nucleotome probe improperly placed in the thecal sac. The authors reemphasize the landmarks for the thecal sac, i.e., the medial border of the pedicles, and discuss the preventable nature of this type of complication.