Epidural bleeding after ACL reconstruction under regional anaesthesia: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Epidural bleeding as a complication of catheterization or epidural catheter removal is often associated with perioperative thromboprophylaxis especially in adult reconstructive surgery.


METHODS
We report on a case of a 19 years old male athlete that underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, receiving low molecular weight heparin for thromboprophylaxis and developed an epidural hematoma and subsequent cauda equina syndrome two days after removal of the epidural catheter. An urgent magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an epidural hematoma from the level of L3 to L4. Emergent decompression and hematoma evacuation resulted in patient's significant neurological improvement immediately postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
A high index of clinical suspicion and surgical intervention are necessary to prevent such potentially disabling complications especially after procedures on a day-case basis and early patient's discharge.
Roidis
Nikolaos T
NT
Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Thessaly Larissa Hellenic Republic. roidisn@otenet.gr
Poultsides
Lazaros A
LA
Gougoulias
Nikolaos E
NE
Liakou
Paraskevi D
PD
Karachalios
Theofilos S
TS
Malizos
Konstantinos N
KN