Neurological long-term sequelae after spinal anaesthesia in a tropical setting: a case control study.
Spinal anaesthesia (SA) is an important form of anaesthesia in tropical countries. It is considered to have few long-term complications or sequelae, although this hypothesis has not been proven in a rural tropical setting. In a case control study we found SA to he a significant risk factor for lower back pain, reflex abnormalities and muscular atrophy and mild impairment of muscle power in patients examined between 3 months and 4 years after SA. These long-term sequelae need to be confirmed in a larger prospective study employing all possible neurophysiological and neuroimaging techniques.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria. erich.schmutzhard@uibk.ac.at
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Bauer
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Fiala
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Mues
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Schmutzhard
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014329:Tropical Climate