Fractured epidural catheter with retained fragment in the epidural space-a case study and proposed management...

A broken epidural catheter with a retained fragment in the spinal canal is a rare complication of an otherwise low-risk procedure. We present a case of a 37-year-old post-partum female with a fractured epidural catheter with a retained fragment in the epidural space, after epidural anaesthesia using a midline L3/L4 approach. The patient was completely asymptomatic, and the management decision lay between surgical exploration with removal and conservative management with no intervention. CT scan findings were unhelpful, and MRI imaging showed a probable retained fragment penetrating the midline ligamentum flavum, with the catheter tip lying within the spinal canal. The fragment was removed under general anaesthesia 3 days post-delivery. In our proposed treatment algorithm, if the residual catheter fragment is proved radiologically to lie outside the spinal canal and there is no residual catheter breaching the skin to provide a portal for infection, conservative management is reasonable. Early removal is advised when the retained fragment is within the spinal canal-preferably within days to prevent the formation of dural adhesions. This is easier under direct vision, allowing rapid discharge and avoiding much more difficult and higher risk surgery later on.