Post lumbar puncture spinal subarachnoid hematoma causing paraplegia: a short report

Neurol India. 2002 Sep;50(3):367-9.

Abstract

A 53 year old male underwent total excision of a large sphenoidal wing meningioma. Patient was treated with cephalosporins and phenytoin for postoperative meningitis. Three weeks after surgery, a follow up lumbar puncture was done. The patient became paraplegic over a few hours. Imaging of the dorsolumbar spine and other investigations demonstrated a large intraspinal hematoma caused by thrombocytopenia which was probably drug induced. After normalising the platelet count surgical evacuation of the spinal subarachnoid hematoma was done. Relevant literature is reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Hematoma / etiology*
  • Hematoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraplegia / etiology*
  • Paraplegia / pathology
  • Spinal Cord
  • Spinal Puncture / adverse effects*
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / pathology