Lumbar epidural hematoma following lumbar puncture: the role of high dose LMWH and late surgery. A case report.

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a known complication of spinal surgery, but the incidence of post-surgical SEHs that result in neurologic deficits is extremely rare (0.1%). Patients that require multilevel lumbar procedures and/or have a preoperative coagulopathy are at a significantly higher risk of developing an epidural hematoma. The introduction of higher dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) twice daily 30 mg regimen) increased the reported incidence of neuroaxial hematomas. Surgery performed within 8 hours makes good or partial recovery of neurologic function. Our patient was also started on higher dose of LMWH and developed neurological deficits due to a SEH following lumbar puncture. She underwent operation after six days and she had a mild recovery following the operation. Current administration of high doses of LMWH can cause SEH even after a lumbar puncture, which was performed without multiple attempts. Although surgery performed within 8 hours makes good or partial recovery of neurologic function, laminectomy and epidural hematoma evacuation performed after three days can also have successful results.

Lumbar epidural hematoma following lumbar puncture: the role of high dose LMWH and late surgery. A case report

El hematoma espinal epidural (HEE) es una complicación conocida en la cirugía espinal, pero la incidencia del HEE que da lugar a déficit neurológico es muy rara(0,1%). Los pacientes que necesitan intervenciones en varios niveles lumbares y/o que tienen una coagulopatía preoperatoria tienen un riesgo significativamente mayor de desarrollar un hematoma epidural. La introducción de dosis altas de heparina de bajo peso molecular(HBPM), (30 mgrs. dos veces al día) aumentan la incidencia de hematomas neuroaxiales. La cirugía llevada acabo dentro de las 8 horas da lugar a un recuperación buena o parcial de la función neurológica. Nuestro paciente fue tratada con dosis altas de HBPM y desarrolló un déficit neurológico debido a un HEE, después de una punción lumbar. Fue operada al cabo de seis días y se recuperó parcialmente de su déficit después de la intervención. La administración actual de dosis altas de HBPM puede dar lugar a HEE, incluso después de una punción lumbar, que se hizo en pocos intentos. Aunque la cirugía realizada en las primeras 8horas produce una recuperación buena o parcial, la laminectomía y evacuación del hematoma llevada acabo después de tres días también puede dar lugar a buenos resultado

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a known complication of spinal surgery, but the incidence of post-surgical SEHs that result in neurologic deficits is extremely rare (0.1%). Patients that require multilevel lumbar procedures and/or have a preoperative coagulopathy are at a significantly higher risk of developing an epidural hematoma. The introduction of higher dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) twice daily 30mg regimen) increased the reported incidence of neuroaxial hematomas. Surgery performed within 8 hours makes good or partial recovery of neurologic function. Our patient was also started on higher dose of LMWH and developed neurological deficits due to a SEH following lumbar puncture. She underwent operation after six days and she had a mild recovery following the operation. Current administration of high doses of LMWH can cause SEH even after a lumbar puncture, which was performed without multiple attempts. Although surgery performed within 8 hours makes good or partial recovery of neurologic function, laminectomy and epidural hematoma evacuation performed after three days can also have successful results