Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
Intraspinal Cell Transplantation for Targeting Cervical Ventral Horn in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: September 18, 2011
Subacute steroid-induced paraparesis: surgical treatment of a devastating "invisible" side effect
M Javad Mirzayan1, M Javad Mirzayan, Thomas Goessling
1Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. mirzayan@hotmail.com
Purpose:
To emphasize an underestimated side effect following long-term use of steroids.
Methods:
We report on surgical treatment of two patients with serious neurologic deficits caused by epidural spinal lipoma following long-term intake of cortisone.
Results:
Early decompression of the spinal cord by removal of epidural lipoma was the most effective treatment in these patients with progressive symptoms.
Conclusion:
Diagnostic work-up of such patients should include early spinal MRI resulting in surgical intervention, if indicated. Decompression of the spinal cord eventually combined with fusion is necessary.