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Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Success of Ultrasound-Guided Neuraxial Anesthesia in Cases with Difficult Anatomy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Ultrasound-Assisted Spinal Anesthesia in a Patient with a Preexisting Lumbar Interspinous Spacer: A Case Report
Priscilla Huang1, Michael N Singleton, William P Qiao
1From the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, & Pain Management, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.
Abstract:
An interspinous spacer is a minimally invasive implantable device for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. The in situ implant may prevent safe and successful spinal anesthesia because its position can obstruct the path of the spinal needle. Lumbar neuraxial ultrasonography has been shown to aid in performance of neuraxial anesthesia in patients with challenging anatomy. Currently, there are no reported cases of ultrasound-assisted spinal anesthesia in patients with interspinous spacers. We present a case in which ultrasonography assisted the successful administration of a spinal anesthetic by avoiding an indwelling lumbar interspinous spacer.
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