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Low back pain, leg weakness, numbness of perianal area

A) Lumbar strain
B) Lumbar disc herniation
C) Sacroiliitis
D) Spinal stenosis

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Low back pain, leg weakness, and numbness in the perianal area are most consistent with lumbar disc herniation. This condition is caused by the protrusion of the nucleus pulposus, leading to compression of the spinal nerve and resulting symptoms like sciatica.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms of low back pain, leg weakness, and numbness of the perianal area are indicative of neurological involvement, likely stemming from spinal structures. Given the options provided, the most consistent with these symptoms is B) Lumbar disc herniation. A herniated intervertebral disc, often resulting from the weakening of the anulus fibrosus, can cause the nucleus pulposus to protrude and compress a spinal nerve. This compression leads to pain and muscle weakness in the body regions supplied by the affected nerve. The L4/L5 or L5/S1 intervertebral discs are common sites for such herniation, which can cause sciatica, evidenced by widespread pain that radiates from the lower back down the thigh and leg. Additionally, herniation at these levels can sometimes cause numbness in the perianal area, known as saddle anesthesia, which is a red flag for severe nerve root compression.

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