Spinal cord injury following an attempted thoracic epidural.
Unsuccessful attempts were made to insert a thoracic epidural in an anaesthetised patient. Signs of spinal cord damage were observed the following day. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a haematoma anterior to the spinal cord. Surgical exploration revealed an intradural haematoma and a needle puncture of the cord. The patient suffered a permanent paraparesis.
Mayall
M F
MF
Department of Anaesthesia, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Calder
I
I
D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology*