Anesth Pain Med.  2015 Jul;10(3):171-174. 10.17085/apm.2015.10.3.171.

Nerve injury in an undiagnosed adult tethered cord syndrome patients following spinal anesthesia: A case report

• Kim YY
• Song JW
• Lim JH
• Kim YS
• Kwon YE
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2148026
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2015.10.3.171

Abstract

Spinal anesthesia is a safe and widely used procedure. Spinal cord injury is a rare but serious complication from spinal anesthesia occurs, unexpectedly. Risks of direct neural injury from spinal anesthesia increase in tethered cord syndrome that the spinal cord is tethered by the inelastic structure and is, also, extended to the lower lumbar vertebra. A 52-years-old female patient undergoing anti-incontinence surgery developed neurologic symptoms following spinal anesthesia. The low-lying conus (L5 body level) and tethered cord were found during the assessment of neurological symptoms.

Keyword

Spinal anesthesia; Spinal cord injury; Tethered cord syndrome

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Anesthesia, Spinal*
Conus Snail
Female
Humans
Neural Tube Defects*
Neurologic Manifestations
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spine