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Lumbar radiculopathy caused by a lost silverclip
S Rossitti1, C von Essen, A Roos
1Department of Neurosurgery, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Neurochirurgia
|July 1, 1993
Summary
A migrated surgical clip caused lumbar radiculopathy in an adult patient. Surgical removal and neurolysis resolved the nerve compression and pain.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Lumbar radiculopathy can arise from various causes, including iatrogenic factors.
- Surgical clips are commonly used in neurosurgery, but late complications are rare.
Observation:
- An adult patient presented with symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy (L4 nerve root).
- Imaging revealed a migrated silver clip compressing the L4 nerve root.
Findings:
- The silver clip was likely retained from a prior cerebellar tumor surgery years earlier.
- Surgical intervention involved clip removal and partial neurolysis of the affected nerve root.
- Pathophysiology is attributed to increased nerve root tension from clip corrosion and associated scar tissue.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare, delayed complication of retained surgical clips.
- It underscores the importance of considering iatrogenic causes in unexplained radiculopathy.
- Successful surgical management can alleviate symptoms caused by such migrated foreign bodies.