[Postpartum nerve injury is usually not caused by neuroaxial anesthesia--a case report]

Postpartum nerve injury is usually not caused by neuroaxial anesthesia - a case report In this case report we describe a woman who after giving birth had numbness and could not support her weight on the right leg. Three attempts of epidural anesthesia had been made during labor. MRI imaging of the spinal cord showed no pathology. She was treated conservatively by a physiotherapist and recovered gradually. After six months all symptoms had resolved. Postpartum nerve injury is often thought to be due to neuroaxial anesthesia, although in most cases it is caused by labor itself. Postpartum nerve injuries has been reported to occur in up to 1% of newly delivered women and presents with numbness, weakness and/or pain in the lower extremities. It is caused by stretch or compression of nerves in the pelvic region, for example the lumbosacral plexus, either related to position while giving birth or by compression of nerves between the pelvic brim and the fetus head, which causes demyelination. The prognosis is good with spontaneous resolution of symptoms usually within 2-6 months.