Symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by postsurgical pseudomeningocele
Arthur de Azambuja Pereira Filho1, Gustavo de David, Gustavo de Azambuja Pereira Filho
1Hospital São José, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. arthurpereirafilho@gmail.com
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|July 4, 2007
Summary
A postsurgical pseudomeningocele caused thoracic spinal cord compression in a patient. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of myelopathy following thoracic spine surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Spinal schwannomas can cause neurological deficits.
- Postsurgical complications can arise after spinal surgery.
- Pseudomeningocele is a rare complication of spinal procedures.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old male presented with progressive lower extremity weakness.
- Symptoms began ten months after treatment for a thoracic spinal schwannoma.
- MRI revealed a postsurgical thoracic pseudomeningocele with a cerebrospinal fluid fistula.
Findings:
- The pseudomeningocele resulted from inadequate dural closure.
- Surgical repair involved dural closure with muscle and biological glue.
- The patient experienced a good neurological recovery post-intervention.
Implications:
- Postsurgical pseudomeningocele is a potential cause of delayed myelopathy.
- Consider pseudomeningocele in the differential diagnosis of new-onset myelopathy after thoracic surgery.
- Early diagnosis and surgical management are crucial for favorable outcomes.