title: Delayed occurrence of spinal arachnoiditis following a caudal block.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spinal arachnoiditis is a rare disease caused by fibrosis and adhesion of the arachnoid membrane due to chronic inflammation. The causes of arachnoiditis are infection, spinal surgery, intraspinal injection of steroid or myelography dye, and spinal anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 60-year-old woman presented with progressive weakness and sensory change of both legs and urinary symptoms. She had received a single caudal block 6 months before symptom onset. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoraco-lumbar  spine showed an intradural extramedullary tumor at the T5-T7 level. She underwent laminectomy and tumor resection. The pathological finding was arachnoiditis. After surgery, a rehabilitation program of strengthening exercises of both lower extremities and gait training was started.  At 2-month follow-up, she was able to walk with orthoses and performed daily activities with minimal assistance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of spinal arachnoiditis occurred 6 months after a single caudal block in this woman. Clinicians should be aware of this possible delayed  complication.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Soo Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Myung Hyun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal / Q000379:methods*; D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000628:therapy* / Q000151:congenital; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*