Transient lumbosacral polyradiculopathy after prostatectomy: association with spinal stenosis

Mononeuropathies are common after pelvic surgery. They are usually the result of unnatural positioning during surgery or faulty restraining devices. Polyneuropathy in the postoperative setting is rare. We report two cases of polyradiculopathy after radical prostatectomy using two different patient positions. Both patients complained of paresthesias and weakness in their lower extremities on postoperative day 1. Neurologic examination in each case was consistent with a polyradiculopathy. Significant spinal stenosis of the lumbosacral spine was found in both patients by magnetic resonance imaging. We propose that spinal stenosis is a risk factor for this type of neurologic injury.