Dural ectasia is widening or ballooning of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord. This usually occurs in the lumbosacral region, as this is where the cerebrospinal fluid pressure is greatest, but the spinal canal can be affected in any plane.
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Signs and symptoms
Most common symptoms include lower back pain, headaches, weakness, numbness (anesthesia) above and below the involved limb, leg pain, and sometimes there can be rectal and genital pain. Bowel and bladder dysfunction, urinary retention or even incontinence may occur.
The symptoms are usually exacerbated by upright posture and often but not always relieved by lying down. However, in many patients it is asymptomatic.
Causes
It is common in Marfan syndrome, occurring in 63–92% of people with the syndrome. Dural ectasia may also occur in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, neurofibromatosis type I, ankylosing spondylitis,and trauma.