Transient paralysis by loculation of the injectant associated with epidural injection

ABSTRACT

@#Transient paralysis occasionally occurs after an epidural injection, but the reasons for this are still unknown. We present here a patient with transient paralysis following loculation of the injectant associated with the procedure. A 50-year-old woman with a history of two previous spinal operations complained of a burning sensation and radiating pain. A caudal block and right S1 transforaminal epidural block were performed. Loculation of the block injectant into the right L5 and S1 epidural space was confirmed through computed topographic imaging. She showed transient weakness of the right lower limb, which completely recovered after 1 day. This case shows that extra care should be taken when performing an epidural injection in a patient with adhesions around the injection site and appropriate adjustments should be made to the volume of the injectant.