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Published on: April 18, 2011
Motor Weakness after Caudal Epidural Injection Using the Air-acceptance Test
Mi Hyeon Lee1, Cheol Sig Han, Sang Hoon Lee
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
The Korean Journal of Pain
|July 18, 2013
Summary
Air bubbles in the epidural space can cause rare neurological issues like motor weakness after caudal epidural injections. This case highlights a patient whose symptoms resolved spontaneously within 48 hours.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Anesthesiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Air introduced into the epidural space can spread, potentially causing neurological complications.
- While serious complications like paraplegia are known, motor weakness from air bubbles post-caudal epidural injection is infrequent.
Observation:
- A 44-year-old female experienced motor weakness in her right lower extremity and S1 dermatome numbness hours after a caudal epidural injection.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 13 mm air bubble near the right S1 nerve root.
Findings:
- The presence of an air bubble was identified as the likely cause of the patient's neurological symptoms.
- The patient's motor weakness and sensory deficits resolved completely within 48 hours.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for air bubbles to cause transient neurological deficits after epidural procedures.
- It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and monitoring such events, even when symptoms appear to be resolving.
