title: Lumbar spinal subdural hematoma following craniotomy--case report.
abstract: A 52-year-old female complained of lumbago and weakness in the lower extremities 6 days after craniotomy for clipping an aneurysm. Neurological examination revealed symptoms consistent with lumbosacral cauda equina compression. The symptoms affecting the lower extremities spontaneously disappeared within 3 days. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging 10 days after the operation demonstrated a lumbar spinal subdural hematoma (SSH). She had no risk factor for bleeding at this site, the symptoms appeared after she began to walk, and MR imaging suggested the SSH was subacute. Therefore, the SSH was probably due to downward movement of blood from the cranial subdural space under the influence of gravity. SSH as a complication of cranial surgery is rare, but should be considered if a patient develops symptoms consistent with a lumbar SSH after craniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kan
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed