Cerebellar Hemorrhage after Posterior Lumbar Decompression and Interbody Fusion Complicated by Dural Tear: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH), which was a complication after posterior decompression and lumbar interbody fusion (PILF). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) after spinal surgery is a rare complication, and its cause is known to be due to a loss of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) through the dural tear. Most of the literature has disclosed that early diagnosis and treatment of RCH is very important in the patient with suspicious symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 57-year-old woman had posterior lumbar decompression and interbody fusion for the severe spinal stenosis at L4-5. During surgery, an accidental dural tear with CSF leakage occurred. The torn dura was sutured. Postoperatively, she developed nausea and a severe headache. Hypotension developed at postoperative 2 hours. A brain CT showed RCH. The patient was conservatively managed with clamping of the wound drainage. RESULTS: The nausea and severe headache were controlled and normal blood pressure could be maintained without dopamine therapy at postoperative day 2. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficit, and her consciousness was clear at postoperative 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent postoperative nausea, headache, and hypotension after repair of the torn dura may suggest that the treating surgeons pay careful attention due to the possibility of RCH, even though the amount of CSF leakage is small.