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Spinal arachnoiditis following subarachnoid haemorrhage.
J J Tjandra1, T R Varma, R D Weeks
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Health Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) can lead to chronic adhesive spinal arachnoiditis, a rare but severe complication. This condition can cause significant spinal cord dysfunction and paraplegia.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Cord Medicine
Background:
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a critical neurological event.
- Spinal arachnoiditis is an inflammatory condition affecting the spinal cord's protective layers.
- Adhesive arachnoiditis can lead to severe neurological deficits.
Observation:
- Two patients developed chronic adhesive spinal arachnoiditis after documented SAH.
- Both cases exhibited progressive severe spinal cord dysfunction.
- Paraplegia was the advanced stage of dysfunction observed in these patients.
Findings:
- Chronic adhesive spinal arachnoiditis can be a severe complication following SAH.
- The progression to paraplegia underscores the disabling potential of this condition.
- Early recognition and management strategies for post-SAH arachnoiditis require further investigation.
Implications:
- This case report emphasizes the need for heightened awareness of spinal arachnoiditis post-SAH.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathophysiology and treatment of this rare complication.
- Improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches may mitigate severe neurological deficits like paraplegia.