title: Post-operative spinal subdural extra-arachnoid hygroma causing cauda equina compression: a report of two cases.
abstract: We present two cases of symptomatic, post-lumbar surgery cauda equina compression due to formation of a dissecting subdural extra-arachnoid cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection (hygroma) under tension. In both cases, a small inadvertent durotomy was sustained during the initial surgery. Surgical re-exploration confirmed a tension subdural extra-arachnoid hygroma due to one-way flow of CSF through a pinhole puncture in the arachnoid. The mechanism and clinico-radiological features of this rare post-operative complication are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Road, Bristol, UK. williamsingleton@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: William G B
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: Devindra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramnarine
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Crispin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wigfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012086:Reoperation; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*