Pneumocephalus and Sixth Nerve Palsy after Epidural Steroid Injection: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Wendy F Li1, Kyle Kovacs1, Adeniyi A Fisayo2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Background:
Pneumocephalus has been described as an unintended outcome after epidural injections. However, oculomotor palsy from pneumocephalus after epidural injection is very rare.
Case Report:
We report a case of pneumocephalus-induced sixth nerve palsies and diplopia in an 87-year-old woman after epidural steroid injection. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Pneumocephalus-induced oculomotor palsy is a rare complication after epidural injection, a commonly performed medical procedure. Knowledge of this presentation will help emergency physicians distinguish between this entity and other causes of neurologic deficits.
