Paraplegia after thoracotomy under combined general and epidural anesthesia in a child.

A 9-year-old boy underwent a thoracotomy for excision of his right third rib under combined general and epidural anesthesia for a Ewings sarcoma. Postoperatively, he was found to have a complete T2-3 paraplegia. Permanent paraplegia was described as a rare complication of thoracotomy in adults, and very rarely after epidural analgesia in adults and babies. This was the first report in a child.