title: Aseptic meningitis after microdiscectomy: description of a case and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aseptic meningitis has rarely been described after spinal surgery. No reports of aseptic meningitis exist after microdiscectomy in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report on a case of aseptic meningitis in a patient after undergoing laminotomy and microdiscectomy at L4-L5.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of aseptic meningitis is reported after microdiscectomy at L4-L5 in a 31-year-old man. In this case, a patient underwent L4-L5 laminotomy and microdiscectomy for weakness and pain. He subsequently presented 3 days after with neck pain, photophobia, and fever.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination subsequently revealed a pattern for aseptic meningitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presentation of aseptic meningitis after microdiscectomy is a rare but important diagnosis to consider. Examination of CSF is an important procedure to rule out the more dangerous diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Spine Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. agtodd@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Cammisa
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.forename: Federico P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Girardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis; D008866:Microsurgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents