Postoperative paraplegia coincident with single shot spinal anaesthesia.
Paraplegia is a rare but serious complication of spinal anaesthesia. We report an 83-year-old patient who developed anterior spinal artery syndrome resulting in paraplegia some 24 hours after undergoing spinal anaesthesia for a Moore's hemiarthroplasty. Return of neurologic function was documented prior to the onset of paralysis, with magnetic resonance imaging evidence suggestive of spinal cord infarction.
LaFerlita
B W
BW
Department of Anaesthesia, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*