Irreversible spinal cord injury as a complication of subarachnoid ethanol neurolysis.
Subarachnoid neurolysis using ethanol to destroy selectively the posterior roots of the spinal cord is a method for providing pain relief in patients with advanced cancer. Weakness of the extremities is a complication of the procedure that has been attributed to spread of the neurolytic agent to the anterior roots. The authors provide evidence of spinal cord injury as a cause of lower extremity weakness in a patient after subarachnoid ethanol neurolysis.
McGarvey
M L
ML
Departments of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. mlmcgarv@mail.med.upenn.edu
Ferrante
F M
FM
Patel
R S
RS
Maljian
J A
JA
Stecker
M
M
D020268:Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000187:drug effects*
D000431:Ethanol