Spinal cord damage caused by rotation of a T-drain in a patient with syringoperitoneal shunt.
We report on a severe complication to the use of intramedullary T-drain in syringoperitoneal shunting procedures: rotational forces in the shunt system causing the arms of the T-drain to gradually compress spinal cord tissue and damage it. Further rotation/destruction was prevented by removing the distal part of the drain system, and by separating the two arms of the T-drain, thus changing it into a syringosubarachnoidal shunt. The syrinx remained collapsed throughout all procedures.
Wester
K
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen, Norway.
Pedersen
P H
PH
Kråkenes
J
J
D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*