Irreversible damage to the spinal cord following spinal anesthesia.

The authors report five patients with damage to the distal spinal cord following spinal anesthesia. The patients developed leg weakness and sensory disturbance. MRI of the lumbosacral spine showed an abnormal area of high signal within the conus medullaris in all patients. Symptoms and signs persisted at 1- to 2.5-year follow-ups. Incorrect needle placement and type of needle used are possible factors leading to spinal cord injury.