Epidural hematoma after routine epidural steroid injection.

BACKGROUND: There are few reported cases of an epidural spinal hematoma following interventional pain procedures. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of a spinal epidural hematoma in a patient with no known risk factors (e.g. coagulopathy), who underwent an epidural steroid injection (ESI) in the same anatomic location as two previously successful ESI procedures.
CONCLUSION: Early detection was the key to our case, and avoiding sedation allowed the patient to recognize the onset of a new neurological deficit, and lead to prompt diagnosis as well as surgical decompression of the resultant hematoma.

INTRODUCTION

There is no documented long-term efficacy of epidural steroid injections (ESI) documented in the literature. Furthermore, they are not always safe as documented in this case of an ESI leading to an epidural spinal hematoma requiring emergency evacuation.

CASE REPORT

A 48-year-old-female with lumbar radiculopathy had previously undergone an L5 discectomy. Following an L5 hemilaminectomy, she presented with increased left lower extremity radiculopathy. As the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any significant epidural scar, she underwent two sets of interlaminar lumbar ESIs under fluoroscopic guidance. Both provided >50% pain relief lasting 2 months each. While undergoing a third ESI, in the same interlaminar space, she reported severe worsening of her lower low back pain after injection of 0.5 ml of radiographic contrast dye; the procedure was immediately aborted.

In the postoperative anesthesia care unit, she not only continued to have severe low back and left leg pain, but newly demonstrated increased an acute left-sided foot drop. She immediately underwent both computed tomography scan and MRI evaluations [Figures 1 and 2]. Since both studies demonstrated an epidural hematoma extending from L2 to L4, she emergently underwent an L3/L4 hemi laminotomy for evacuation of hematoma. Postoperatively, as she had continued pain and the left–sided foot drop, she was taken back to operating room for an additional L4/L5 micro discectomy for decompression of the left L5 nerve root. Six weeks later, she was using a cane, and the left-sided foot drop had significantly improved.

Figure 1

Sagittal T1 magnetic resonance imaging of L2–L4 hematoma. (Images obtained from John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Department of Radiology 2015)

Figure 2

Axial T2-weighted images of L2–L4 hematoma. (Images obtained from John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Department of Radiology 2015)

DISCUSSION

Complication of epidural steroid injection

ESIs are the most commonly performed pain procedures in the United States. However, in the literature,[15] they have no long-term and only variable short-term benefit. Known complications related to ESI include vasovagal syncope, postdural puncture headaches, infections (e.g., epidural abscess, meningitis), and epidural hematoma.

Complications of epidural spinal anesthesia

Although the incidence and prevalence of epidural hematoma after steroid injections are not well known, the overall incidence of hematoma formation after epidural anesthesia ranges from 1/15,000 to 1/220,000.[5] Risk factors for epidural hematoma formation following these injections include anticoagulant therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, bleeding diatheses, traumatic needle or catheter insertions, previous surgeries, and known spinal cord pathologies.[45]

While such hematomas constitute rare complication, when they development, they can result in acute spinal cord compression characterized by severe back pain, motor deficits, bowel or bladder dysfunction, and paraplegia.[2]

Case presentation

In the case presented, the patient had no known risk factors for the development of an epidural hematoma. While we acknowledge that such a severe complication occurred after a routine ESI procedure, the anesthetic management in this particular case (e.g. only local anesthetic) that helped lead to a rapid diagnosis of an evolving hematoma and definitive surgical intervention.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.