Turkish Neurosurgery 2010 , Vol 20 , Num 3
A Rare Complication of Spinal Surgery: Cerebelllar Hemorrhage
Sanser GUL, Murat KALAYCI, Bektas ACIKGOZ
Karaelmas University, School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery Zonguldak, Turkey DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.2283-09.2 Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) after spinal surgery is encountered extremely rarely. A 64 year-old female patient developed symptoms of deteriorating consciousness and diplopia arising on the first postoperative day after recurrent spinal surgery. Cranial CT scan showed cerebral edema and evidence of a cerebellar hemorrhage. Urgent suboccipital decompressive craniectomy and expanded duraplasty were performed. Repeat CT at 24 h revealed hydrocephalus and an external ventricular drain (EVD) was inserted for 20 days. The patient's consciousness deteriorated after withdrawal of the EVD and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. The patient recovered completely except for gait ataxia and left foot drop. Although the exact cause is unknown iatrogenic dural opening resulting in excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage and secondary development of venous infarction have been suggested to lead to RCH. Keywords : Cerebrospinal fluid, Drainage, Remote cerebellar hemorrhage Spinal surgery
Corresponding author : Sanser Gul, drsanser@yahoo.com