Open AccessTemporary Neurologic Deficit After Cervical Transforaminal Injection of Local Anesthetic
Author(s) -
Karasek Michael,
Bogduk Nikolai
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2004.04028.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , anesthetic , local anesthetic , spinal cord stimulator , radicular pain , surgery , spinal cord , embolus , neurological deficit , lumbar , spinal cord stimulation , psychiatry
Objective To describe the effects of spinal cord block after injection of local anesthetic into a cervical radicular artery. Design Case report. Setting Neurology practice specializing in spinal pain. Interventions A patient underwent a C6–7 transforaminal injection. Contrast medium indicated correct and safe placement of the needle. Results After the injection of local anesthetic, the patient developed quadriplegia. The injection was terminated. The neurologic impairment resolved after 20 minutes observation. Conclusion Despite correct placement of the needle for a cervical transforaminal injection, injectate may nevertheless enter a cervical radicular artery. Whereas local anesthetic, so injected, appears to have only a temporary effect on spinal cord function, particulate steroids may act as an embolus and cause permanent impairment.