Severe progressive late onset myelopathy and arachnoiditis following neonatal meningitis.
This case series describes four children who had meningitis in the neonatal period. After a stable period of years, they developed a myelopathy caused by chronic arachnoiditis. The myelopathy was precipitated by a fall in two cases, and in two cases there was an acute deterioration after surgery. A history of neonatal meningitis should be taken into consideration before planning surgery or anaesthesia. Careful intra-operative positioning, immobilisation of the neck, and maintenance of blood pressure is important but may not prevent this complication.
de Goede
Christian G E L
CG
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Hospital Road, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA, UK. cdegoede@doctors.org.uk
Jardine
Philip E
PE
Eunson
Paul
P
Renowden
Shelley
S
Sharples
Peta
P
Newton
Richard W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D020814:Meningitis, Escherichia coli / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt