Sudden bilateral foot drop

Description: Bilateral acute foot drop is reported in a 30-year-old healthy male. He presented with a 7-day history of sudden severe backache, radiating to both the lower limbs and 1-day history of sudden bilateral ankle weakness that progressed to bilateral foot drop within 6 hours. He also developed retention of urine. Investigations revealed a large central disc prolapse at L3-4 with significant canal stenosis at that level. Following surgery the patient had progressive improvement.
Sudden bilateral foot drop: an unusual presentation of lumbar disc prolapse. Mahapatra AK, Gupta PK, Pawar SJ, Sharma RR. Neurol India. 2003 Mar;51(1):71-2.