Progressive paraplegia after upper thoracic epidural block-related pneumorachis: A case report

While the typical symptom associated with pneumorachis after an epidural block is radiculopathy in one or several corresponding segments, there has been a rare case report of significant complications such as cardiac arrest leading to death, or paraplegia.

We present a case of an eighty-nine-year-old male patient who developed progressive paraplegia following an upper thoracic epidural block-associated pneumorachis. The procedure was performed at a different hospital using the loss of resistance (LOR) technique. Interestingly, the onset of paraplegia was delayed, occurring six hours after the procedure. Furthermore, there was a discrepancy between the clinical symptoms and the identified lesion in imaging studies. Despite the performance of an emergency laminectomy to remove the epidural gas, the paralysis continued to progress proximally.

Healthcare professionals should observe patients for an appropriate duration after the procedure to detect and manage any delayed symptoms. And it is crucial to recognize the potential for lesion extension beyond the symptomatic segment and perform thorough imaging examinations.

These findings emphasize the importance of exercising caution during the procedure, even when using a minimal amount of air with the LOR technique in the thoracic spine.