Flaccid Leg Paralysis Caused by a Thoracic Epidural Catheterization: A Case Report.
10.5535/arm.2013.37.3.453
- Author:
Byoung Hyun JEON
1
;
Heui Je BANG
;
Gyung Moo LEE
;
Oh Pum KWON
;
Young Jin KI
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea. soulover7@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Spinal cord injuries;
Epidural analgesia;
Paralysis
- MeSH:
Analgesia, Epidural;
Anesthesia, General;
Catheterization;
Catheters;
Cauda Equina;
Humans;
Leg;
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy;
Paralysis;
Polyradiculopathy;
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Spine
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2013;37(3):453-458
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We report a case of a 44-year-old patient with paralysis of the left leg who had a thoracic epidural catheterization after general anesthesia for abdominal surgery. Sensory losses below T10 and motor weakness of the left leg occurred after the surgery. Magnetic resonance image study demonstrated a well-defined intramedullary linear high signal intensity lesion on T2-weighted image and low-signal intensity on T1-weighted image in the spinal cord between T9 and L1 vertebral level, and enhancements of the spinal cord below T8 vertebra and in the cauda equina. Electrodiagnostic examination revealed lumbosacral polyradiculopathy affecting nerve roots below L4 level on left side. We suggest that the intrinsic spinal cord lesion and nerve root lesion can be caused by an epidural catheterization with subsequent local anesthetic injection.
