Acute herniated nucleus pulposus with cauda equina compression syndrome following chemonucleolysis. Report of three cases.

Three cases of acute disc herniation causing cauda equina compression syndrome after chemonucleolysis are described. All three patients had myelographic blocks and, despite emergency decompression procedures, were left with residual neurological deficits. Recommendations are made regarding evaluation and therapeutic intervention, and possible etiologies of this problem are reviewed.