Complete paraplegia as a result of regional anesthesia.
Complications after spinal or epidural anesthesia are rare. We report 2 cases of postoperative, complete paraplegia after regional anesthesia in orthopaedic patients not on anticoagulants. The paralysis was likely the result of spinal cord compression secondary to an epidural hematoma in 1 case and subdural hematoma in 1 case. A review of the literature regarding complications of regional anesthesia is presented. Regional anesthesia should be administered with caution and in selected patients.
Stroud
C C
CC
Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Markel
D
D
Sidhu
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000209:etiology; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology