title: Intramedullary placement of intrathecal catheter. Report of a rare complication of intrathecal therapy.
abstract: A rare complication of intrathecal drug therapy-inadvertent insertion of the intrathecal catheter into the matter of the spinal cord-is presented. The patient developed signs of progressive monoparesis immediately after implantation of an intrathecal drug delivery system. The underlying problem was diagnosed with computed tomographic (CT) myelography and magnetic resonance imaging. The symptoms resolved after the catheter was removed. The article discusses probable mechanism of the complication and possible ways of its prevention. The usefulness of CT myelography in determining the intrathecal catheter position relative to the spinal cord is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Section of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill, USA.
authors.forename: Konstantin V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Slavin