J Korean Pain Soc.  1997 Nov;10(2):301-303.

Spinal Arachnoiditis after Continuous Epidural Block

• Jang H
• Kim JH
• Gang HS

Abstract

A 35-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with neurologic symptoms after continuous epidural block performed 2 days earlier. She die not have any prior no previous lumbar surgery or experience trauma, intraspinal hemorrhage, infections or other known causative factors to associate with neurologic symptoms. Continuous epidural block is widely used for postoperative pain control. Complications can occur with this block including postduralpuncture headache, epidural abscess and rare cases of arachnoiditis etc. We experienced such a case of spinal arachnoiditis after continuous epidural block. Neurologic examination revealed painful bilateral hypoesthesia below S level dermatomes, urinary and fecal incontinence and various degrees of leg weakness. The following day, the patient was noted to have bilateral sacral radiculopathies and lesion on proximal portion of both tibial nerve. CSF study reported: protein 264 mg/dl, sugar 64 mg/dl, WBC 7/mm . L-spine MyeloCTscan results were unremark- able. She was discharged after a month of hospitalization and has regular checkups but her neurologic symptoms show no signs of improvement.

Keyword

Complication, arachnoiditis; Technique, continuous epidural block

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arachnoid*
Arachnoiditis*
Epidural Abscess
Fecal Incontinence
Female
Headache
Hemorrhage
Hospitalization
Humans
Hypesthesia
Leg
Neurologic Examination
Neurologic Manifestations
Pain, Postoperative
Radiculopathy
Tibial Nerve