Cerebellar hemorrhage after spinal surgery: case report and review of the literature

A Case of Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage in Spinal Surgery without Dural Injury: Case Report

Introduction

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) has been reported as a serious complication of spine surgery and is considered to be caused by dural injury. However, we have experienced a case in which intracranial hemorrhage occurred immediately after lumbar spine surgery without dural tear. There were no reports of RCH in spinal surgery without dural injury as far as we could find.

Case Report

We described a rare presentation of an 80-year-old male who suffered a loss of consciousness after lumbar surgery. He was diagnosed with impaired consciousness due to chronic and acute intracranial hemorrhage. He went through two hematoma removal surgeries and his consciousness improved.

Conclusion

RCH can occur in spinal surgery in patients with predicted cerebrovascular fragility, even in the absence of dural injury. Pre-operative imaging evaluation could be useful in assessing cerebrovascular fragility.

Intracranial Hemorrhage following Spinal Surgery: A Systematic Review of a Rare Complication

Introduction  Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a potentially severe complication of spinal surgeries. The occurrence of such complications causes deterioration of the patient's clinical status and delayed discharge from the hospital. Although no specific etiological factors were identified for this complication, but multiple risk factors might play role in its development, they include the use of anticoagulants, presence of uncontrolled hypertension, and perioperative patient positioning.

Aim  A systematic review of the literature to investigate the prevalence of different types of intracranial hemorrhages in patients who underwent spinal surgeries.

Methods  A literature review was conducted using multiple research databases. Data were extracted using multiple variables that were formulated incongruent with the study aim and then further analyzed.

Results  A total of 79 studies were included in our analysis after applying the exclusion criteria and removing of repeated studies, 109 patients were identified where they were diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage after spine surgery with a mean age of 54 years. The most common type of hemorrhage was cerebellar hemorrhage (56.0%) followed by SDH and intraparenchymal hemorrhage; 23.9 and 17.4%, respectively. The most common spine surgery was laminectomy (70.6%), followed by fixation and fusion (50.5%), excision of spinal lesions was done in 20.2% of the patient, and discectomy (14.7%).

Conclusion  The data in this study showed that out of 112 patients with ICH, cerebellar hemorrhage was the most common type. ICH post–spine surgery is a rare complication and the real etiologies behind this complication are still unknown, cerebrospinal fluid drain and durotomy were suggested.

Seizures following cervical laminectomy and lateral mass fusion: case report and review of the literature

Incidental durotomy can occur as a complication of spine surgery, which may potentially result in serious intracranial complications. We report a case of a 72 years old male with significant cervical spinal stenosis from C3 to C5 with spinal cord myelomalacia who underwent a posterior cervical decompression with instrumentation and fusion from C3-C5. An incidental dural tear was encountered during the surgery, with a sudden gush of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) managed intraoperatively. Unfortunately, he developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures subsequently in the immediate post-operative period. Computerized tomography (CT) scan was urgently done which revealed intracranial pneumocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage and a right acute subdural hematoma. This case illustrates the intracranial hemorrhage potential subsequent to iatrogenic dural tear and CSF leak manifested by generalized seizures. The repair of incidental durotomy should be done immediately to decrease the amount of CSF leak and prevent any devastating effects of intracranial hemorrhage. The mechanism of this type of bleeding, risk factors and appropriate management are discussed, along with a review of the literature.

The Transformation of Intracranial Subdural Hygroma to Chronic Subdural Hematoma Following Endoscopic Spinal Surgery: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

 We present the case of an intracranial subdural hygroma resulting from intraoperatively undetected dural tear after unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) spine surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.

CASE DESCRIPTION

 An 80-year-old woman presented with insidious onset, gradually progressing low back pain, and right leg pain of 1-year duration. The pain radiated to the right L4-L5 dermatomes. Neurogenic intermittent claudication was <300 m. Motor function was normal. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed a lateral recess stenosis at the L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels. These lesions were operated on by the UBE decompression technique.No major complications were encountered during the operation. But soon we found out that there was an undiscovered dura tear. We placed the patient under close observation for 2 weeks. After 30 days, we confirmed that subdural hygroma had changed to chronic subdural hematoma. Conservative treatment was continued. On postoperative day 90), the condition was stable and the symptoms improved completely.

CONCLUSIONS

 We concluded that a spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage can result in an intracranial subdural hygroma. Intracranial subdural hygromas and hematomas after lumbar spinal surgery should be cautiously assessed and treated.

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage: A case report

Intracranial haemorrhage after supra-tentorial craniotomies can occur in a typical pattern and location which may suggest the diagnosis of remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) which is quite a rare occurrence. The ‘Zebra Sign’ refers to a pattern of hyperdensity indicative of blood and hypodensity indicative of normal cerebellar parenchyma in a curvilinear, stripe-like fashion along the cerebellar folia and is a characteristic imaging finding in RCH. RCH in general doesn't require surgical treatment, however in cases of significant hydrocephalus or progressive deterioration of consciousness surgical treatment may be warranted. The knowledge of this condition is important as it can pre-empt unnecessary further investigations and biopsy. Although imaging appearance may be striking, close imaging follow-up and clinical monitoring are often enough for the management of this entity.

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage after Dural Tear in Spinal Surgery-A Series of 10 Cases and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

Intracranial hemorrhage (IH) after spinal surgery is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. Knowledge of predisposing factors and typical clinical signs is essential for early recognition, helping to prevent an unfavorable outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with IH after spinal surgery treated in our institution between 2012 and 2018. The literature dealing with IH complicating spinal surgery was reviewed.

RESULTS

Our investigation found 10 patients with IH (6 female and 4 male). To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest series reported so far. The assumable incidence of IH after spinal surgery in our population was 0.0657%. Durotomy was noticed in 6 patients, all of whom were treated according to a local standard protocol. In 4 patients, the dural tear was occult. Hemorrhage occurred mostly in the cerebellar compartment. Eight of 10 patients had long-standing arterial hypertension, which seems to be a risk factor (hazard ratio, 1.58). Five patients were treated conservatively, whereas 3 required a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedure. In 2 patients, revision surgery with duraplasty was necessary. Seven patients were discharged with little to no neurologic symptoms, and 3 had significant deterioration. One patient died because of brainstem herniation. Review of the literature identified 54 articles with 72 patients with IH complicating spinal surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with intraoperative CSF loss should be kept under close supervision postoperatively. After opening of the dura, a watertight closure should be attempted. The use of subfascial suction drainage in cases of a dural tear as well as preexistent arterial hypertension seems to be a risk factor for the development of IH. Intracranial bleeding must be considered in every patient with unexplained neurologic deterioration after spinal surgery and should be ruled out by cranial imaging. To ensure early recognition and prevent an unfavorable outcome, a high index of suspicion is required, especially in revision spinal surgery. The treatment is specific to the extent and location of the IH, thus dictating the outcome. In most patients, conservative treatment led to a good outcome. CSF diversion measures may be necessary in patients with compression or obstruction of the fourth ventricle. Large hematomas with mass effect may require decompressive surgery.

Remote medulla ablongata ventral acute subarachnoid hemorrhage following cervical spinal surgery: A case report

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Remote intracranial hemorrhage (RICH) in patients during spinal surgery is rare.

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Our case was a man with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to cervical spinal surgery.

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The pathomechanism leading to RICH is probably due to rapid leak of CSF.

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Treatment for RICH depends on the size of hematoma and symptoms.

Introduction

The incidence of remote intracranial hemorrhage (RICH) in patients during spinal surgery is rare and the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

Presentation of case

A 55-year-old man had undergone cervical discectomy and fusion at C5–6 and C6–7 due to herniated disc and secondary spinal canal stenosis. He had severe headache 20 h postoperatively and his drain output increased from 100 to 350 mL in the second 10 h after surgery. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed and he was diagnosed with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage in the ventral medulla oblongata. The drainage tube was quickly removed. Infusion of hypertonic saline was used to reduce intracranial pressure and nimodipine prevented vasospasm around the brainstem. The patient made a gradual, satisfactory recovery with conservative treatment.

Discussion

The most likely pathomechanism leading to RICH is venous bleeding due to rapid leak of a large amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) after spinal surgery. If the patient has a headache or neurological complaints after spinal surgery, immediate imaging is recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment depends on the amount and location of intracranial hemorrhage.

Conclusion

RICH is a serious but rare complication of spinal surgery and cerebellar hemorrhage is the most common. The most important pathomechanism leading to RICH after spinal surgery is venous bleeding due to rapid leak of a large amount of CSF. Timely CT is necessary to exclude RICH. Treatment of RICH depends on the size of the intracranial hematoma and the patient’s symptoms.

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage Associated With Intra-Operative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak: A Report of Two Rare Case Presentations and Review of the Literature

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is a rare complication following cranial or spinal neurosurgical procedures. Traditionally, RCH has been associated with frontal or frontotemporal craniotomy with supine patient positioning. Though the exact etiology is unknown, theories have described patient positioning and excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage intra-operatively as contributing factors to cerebellar displacement (cerebellar sag), obstruction of venous flow, and pathogenesis of RCH. 

We report two cases of RCH following a prone, suboccipital craniotomy-C1 laminectomy and a temporal burr hole evacuation of a subdural hygroma. In each case, a large volume of CSF was rapidly evacuated intra-operatively. To the best of our knowledge, both instances represent relatively rare settings for RCH. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive literature review of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for all cases of RCH in which peri-operative CSF leakage was explicitly detailed.

Although RCH is thought to be a rare complication of frontotemporal and frontal craniotomies, this case report signifies that RCH may occur in the setting of sub-occipital craniotomy or even after minimally invasive burr hole procedures. For these procedures, careful symptomatic monitoring and follow-up imaging remain essential in diagnosis. Controlled CSF drainage may be useful in mediating dramatic alterations in intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebellar sag contributing to RCH.

Cerebellar Hemorrhage and Spinal Fluid Overdrainage With Tonsillar Herniation Following Spine Surgery

Spinal fluid overdrainage with cerebellar hemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal surgery that can have severe consequences if not detected quickly. We present the case of a 72-year-old Caucasian female who underwent thoracolumbar fixation for flatback syndrome. Intraoperatively, the patient suffered a dural injury that was repaired. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient’s neurological status rapidly deteriorated within an hour and Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain output measured 300 ml of serosanguinous fluid. A stat CT scan revealed cerebellar hemorrhage, pneumocephalus, and tonsillar herniation. The postoperative drain was immediately removed, and a ventriculostomy tube was placed, confirming low intracranial pressure. Postoperatively, the patient was electively ventilated for three days, continued with remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) treatment and precaution, and extubated on the third day as the patient’s neurological function continued to improve. The patient was discharged home nine days after the initial surgery, with a complete recovery. This case indicates that wound drainage in the face of durotomy can induce cerebellar herniation as early as within an hour postoperatively following spine surgery with a dural tear, even after dural repair. This case also suggests that early recognition and appropriate management of RCH is the key to a full recovery. Even in the event of tonsillar herniation and cerebellar hemorrhage, a complete recovery is possible with early recognition and proper management.

Dynamic Posture-Related Preoperative Pain as a Single Clinical Criterion in Patient Selection for Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion Without Direct Decompression

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

Evidence on predicting the success of indirect decompression via extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is scarce. The authors investigated if patients who could achieve a pain-free position preoperatively would derive clinical benefit from XLIF without direct decompression.

METHODS

Data from 50 consecutive patients who underwent XLIF with and without direct decompression by a single surgeon from January 2014 to August 2017 was collected. Primary outcome is the rate of failure of patients who underwent XLIF without direct decompression, characterized by persistence of pain postoperatively that required reoperations within 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes are clinical outcomes and patient-reported quality of life outcome data, including visual analogue scale for leg (VASL) and back (VASB) pain, Oswetry Disability Index (ODI), and Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS) of SF-12, for up to 2 years postoperatively.

RESULTS

One patient with preoperative dynamic posture-related pain who underwent XLIF without direct decompression subsequently had a reoperation due to persisting pain. Statistically significant improvement was achieved across all patient reported outcomes (P < .05): improvement of 68% for VASL, 61% for VASB, 50% for ODI, 33% for PCS, and 11% for MCS of SF-12 at last follow-up. Six patients had thigh symptoms that resolved.

CONCLUSION

The simple clinical criterion based on postural pain status preoperatively may help clinicians in patient selection for indirect decompression of XLIF without the need for direct decompression. Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to establish the validity of the algorithm.

Cerebellar hemorrhage as a complication of spine surgery

Background

The association between remote cerebellar hematoma (RCH) and spinal surgery is poorly understood and rarely reported. We present seven cases of RCH after spinal surgery.

Methods

Seven patients were diagnosed with RCH utilizing computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance, between 2012 and 2016. Their clinical presentations, imaging data, treatment modalities, and outcome were analyzed. There were five females and two males with an average age of 55.8 ± 8.4 years. The age of onset ranged from 43 to 67 years and the time to clinical presentation ranged from 3 h to 5 days. Patients presented with: diplopia/strabismus (one patient), dysphagia/urinary incontinence (one patient), respiratory arrest (one patient), meningismus (one patient), and dysarthria (two patients), along with other symptoms/signs.

Results

Three patients were successfully managed without surgery, two required external ventricular drainage, and two were treated with posterior fossa decompression plus ventriculostomy. Four patients recovered completely, two showed mild residual deficits at discharge, while one expired 7 days postoperatively.

Conclusion

RCH is an uncommon and underdiagnosed complication of spine surgery. It should be suspected when intracranial symptoms occur after spinal procedures.

Basal ganglia hemorrhage in a case report following spinal surgery

BACKGROUND

Intracranial hemorrhage is a rare but potentially severe complication of spinal surgery. Most reported post-operative ICH cases consist of cerebellar hemorrhage. There are fewer reported cases of supratentorial ICH following spinal surgery.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 56-year-old woman underwent spinal surgery complicated by bilateral supratentorial intraparenchymal basal ganglia hemorrhage with both intraventricular extension and subarachnoid hemorrhage in both cerebral hemispheres.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of neurological deterioration post-operatively following spinal surgery should alert physicians to the possibility of intracranial hemorrhage in order to facilitate rapid and optimal management. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting basal ganglia hemorrhage following spinal surgery. Moreover, consideration should be given to the possibility of this complication prior to recommendation of elective spinal surgery.

Remote Cerebellar Haemorrhage: A Potential Iatrogenic Complication of Spinal Surgery

We report the case of a 51-year-old man with no significant past medical history, who underwent elective revision spinal surgery and subsequently developed intracranial hypotension, remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH), and mild hydrocephalus on the fourth postoperative day. Remote cerebellar haemorrhage is a known complication of supratentorial surgery. This iatrogenic phenomenon may also occur following spinal surgery, due to dural tearing and rapid cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage, resulting in intracranial hypotension and cerebellar haemorrhage. This complication may result in severe permanent neurologic sequelae; hence, it is of pertinence to diagnose and manage it rapidly in order to optimise patient outcome.

Prediction of 30-day mortality in spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage

Background:

Cerebellar hemorrhage is a potentially life-threatening condition and an understanding of the factors influencing outcome is essential for sound clinical decision-making.

Methods:

We retrospectively evaluated data from 50 consecutive patients who suffered a first spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage (SCH) from 2005 to 2014, analysing their short-term outcomes and identifying possible clinical, radiological and therapeutic risk factors for poor prognosis and death within 30 days.

Results:

Among 50 patients with first SCH, the mean age was 72 ± 10 years. Median Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission was 11 [interquartile range (IQR) = 7–11]. Among 50 patients, 19 patients (38%) underwent surgical hemorrhage evacuation with placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD), 12 patients (24%) received an EVD only and 19 patients (38%) were treated conservatively. The 30-day mortality rate was 36%. In multivariate analysis only the GCS score on admission was a significant predictor of 30-day mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 0.598; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.406–0.879; P = 0.009]. For prediction of 30-day mortality, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed that the best cut-off point was a GCS score of 10 on admission [area under the curve: 0.882, 95% CI = 0.717–1, P < 0.001].

Conclusion:

Lower GCS score on admission was associated with increased 30-day mortality and poorer short-term outcome in patients with SCH. For patients with a GCS score <10 on admission, it is important to balance the possibility of survival afforded by further therapy against the formidable risk of significant functional disability and poor quality of life.

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage caused by undetected dural tear after lumbar spinal surgery

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage is a rare but serious complication after spinal surgery. Although the mechanism is not well known, it always occurs after loss of cerebrospinal fluid due to dural tear, not always identified, which produces remote venous bleeding. Prognosis depends largely on the severity of this bleeding. We report a case of 67-year-old female who suffered a cerebellar and subarachnoid haemorrhage and subdural haematoma after elective lumbar fusion surgery and eventually required decompressive craniectomy.

Immediate Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage and Seizure Following Revision Lumbosacral Fusion

Cerebellar hemorrhage (CH) is a rare but devastating complication following spine surgery. It is associated with a compromise to dura integrity and typically has a delayed post-operative onset. Here, we describe a patient who suffered a CH that presented with a generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizure immediately after a revision lumbar fusion. The patient did not regain consciousness from anesthesia prior to the hemorrhage. There are no reports indicating that CHs can occur abruptly following a spine surgery. This case outlines the importance of remaining vigilant for signs of CH immediately after surgery.

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage Presenting with Cerebellar Mutism after Spinal Surgery: An Unusual Case Report

Dural injury during spinal surgery can subsequently give rise to a remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH). Although the incidence of such injury is low, the resulting hemorrhage can be life threatening. The mechanism underlying the formation of the hemorrhage is not known, but it is mostly thought to develop after venous infarction. Cerebellar mutism (CM) is a frequent complication of posterior fossa operations in children, but it is rarely seen in adults. The development of CM after an RCH has not been described. We describe the case of a 65-year old female who lost cerebrospinal fluid after inadvertent opening of the dura during surgery. Computerized tomography performed when the patient became unable to speak revealed a bilateral cerebellar hemorrhage.

Remote Cerebellar Haemorrhage after Burr Hole Drainage of Chronic Subdural Haematoma: A Case Report

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) is an unusual complication of supratentorial neurosurgical procedures. Even the rarer is cerebellar haemorrhage occurring after supratentorial burr hole drainage of Chronic Subdural Haematoma (CSDH). The exact mechanism is still unclear despite some possible causative factors such as rapid evacuation of haematoma and overdrainage of CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid). We report a 80-year-old male patient who developed cerebellar haemorrhage after burr hole drainage of left frontoparietal chronic subdural haematoma and discuss the possible aetiological mechanisms through the review of the current literature.

Multiple hemorrhages in brain after spine surgery supra- and infra-tentorial components together

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after cranial and spinal surgeries is a well-documented entity, so far concomitant supra- and infra-tentorial hemorrhage after spine surgery has rarely been reported in the literature. A 57-year-old woman presented with intractable low back pain and severely impaired mobility. One year ago, she underwent lumbar laminectomy and fusion with posterior spinal instrumentation between L2 and S1. She developed adjacent segment disease at the upper level of the instrumented vertebra. She had a revision surgery and underwent posterior laminectomy and fusion with bilateral transpedicular instrumentation between T10 and S1. She had severe headache, somnolence, and left hemiparesia 48 h after the surgery. Her emergent head computed tomography depicted intra-parenchymal hemorrhage in the right parietal lobe accompanying with subarachnoid hemorrhage, bilateral symmetrical cerebellar hemorrhages and pneumocephalus. She was treated nonsurgically and she got better despite some residual deficits. Symptoms including constant headache, nausea, vomiting, impaired consciousness, new onset seizure, and focal neurological deficit after spine surgeries should raise suspicion for intracranial intra-parenchymal hemorrhage.

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage after Revision Lumbar Spine Surgery

Study Design Case report. Objective To report a case of remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) without intraoperative dural tear after revision lumbar spine surgery. RCH is a rare postoperative complication following spine surgery. RCH has previously been reported only in cases with intraoperative dural tear or durotomy. Methods Case report and literature review. Results A 58-year-old woman underwent removal of L4-S1 posterior spinal instrumented fusion (PSIF) implants and L3-L4 decompressive laminectomy with PSIF. There was no intraoperative dural tear. After doing well initially, the patient developed new neurologic symptoms and was found to have RCH. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large dural defect. After repair of the dura, the patient had dramatic improvement of her neurologic symptoms. At 1-year follow-up, the patient continued to have no neurologic sequelae. Conclusion This report demonstrates that RCH can occur without intraoperative dural tear. Although rare, any patient with new onset of declining neurologic symptoms following spine surgery should have a brain MRI and should have RCH on the differential diagnosis.

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage after Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease: A Case Report

Spine surgery has been increased as the population ages, but the occurrence of unusual complication such as remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is not well understood. We recently experienced a case of RCH in a 60-year-old woman showed neurologic dysfunction after degenerative lumbar spine surgery. There was no definite dural tearing and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) loss during operation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebellar hemorrhage. The patient received conservative management and rehabilitation program. Most other reports have been suggested that RCH after spinal surgery might be related with excessive CSF drainage perioperatively. Minimizing of CSF loss during operation would be helpful to reduce the risk of RCH. If large volume of CSF has been lost accompanied by neurologic deterioration, brain imaging is necessary simultaneously.

Remote Hemorrhage in the Cerebellum and Temporal Lobe after Lumbar Spine Surgery

Cerebellar hemorrhage remote from the site of surgery can complicate neurosurgical procedures. However, this complication after lumbar surgery is rare. Furthermore, hemorrhage in both the cerebellum and the temporal lobe after spine surgery is rarer still. Herein we present a case of remote hemorrhage in both the cerebellum and the temporal lobe after lumbar spine surgery. A 79-year-old woman with a Schwannoma at the L4 level presented with low back and bilateral leg pain refractory to conservative management. Surgery was undertaken to remove the Schwannoma and to perform posterior fusion. During the surgery, the dura mater was removed in order to excise the Schwannoma. Reconstruction of the dura mater was performed; postoperatively the patient had a cerebrospinal fluid leak. Five days after surgery, clouding of consciousness started gradually, and hemorrhage in the cerebellum and the temporal lobe was revealed by computed tomography. Emergent evacuation of the hemorrhage was performed and the patient recovered consciousness after the surgery. Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid may have induced this hemorrhage. While rare, intracranial hemorrhage after spine surgery can occur, sometimes requiring emergent intervention.

The zebra sign: an unknown known

A 65-year-old woman became obtunded following routine laminectomy and was found to have bilateral cerebellar haemorrhage and convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage. We discuss the possible mechanisms of remote cerebellar haemorrhage—cerebellar haemorrhage that develops after spinal or intracranial surgery—giving rise to the ’zebra sign' and the possible mechanism of convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage in this context [corrected].

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage Complicating Unintended Durotomy in Lumbar Spine Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Case reports and retrospective review of accidental durotomies in lumbar surgeries during 5 years.

OBJECTIVES

To draw attention to a potentially serious complication of incidental durotomy-remote cerebellar hemorrhage.

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA

Accidental durotomy is a frequent complication of spinal surgery. In most cases the outcome of incidental durotomy is favorable. A delayed potentially serious complication of CSF loss during and after lumbar surgery is remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH).

METHODS

During 2008-2012, 1169 lumbar spine procedures were performed at our spine center. In 210 surgeries incidental or intentional durotomies occurred. All patients with durotomies were managed with suturing of the dural wound followed by deep wound drainage left for 5 days and tight wound closure.

RESULTS

Of the 210 patients with CSF loss three patients were identified to suffer from RCH-an incidence of 0.26%. The three patients ages 56, 67 and 75 years developed RCH between 36-192 hours after surgery. All three were managed with supportive treatment and close clinical supervision. A gradual clinical and radiological improvement was noted in all three patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe headache after spinal surgery and or declining mental status should not be attributed only to low CSF pressure secondary to dural tearing. It can also be the result of remote cerebral or cerebellar hemorrhage. Once the diagnosis of RCH is made, close clinical supervision is mandatory. In most cases non-operative supportive treatment may lead to eventual full clinical recovery.

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage following thoracic spinal surgery of an intradural extramedullary tumor: a case report

Introduction

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal surgery. Although loss of cerebrospinal fluid seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this complication, the detailed mechanism of remote cerebellar hemorrhage after spinal surgery remains unclear. We report the case of a patient with remote cerebellar hemorrhage following thoracic spinal surgery of an intradural extramedullary tumor and discuss this entity with reference to the literature.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital with back pain, dysuria, and numbness of both legs. A neurological examination was performed, and imaging was performed with ordinary radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. Her magnetic resonance imaging scan showed an intradural extramedullary tumor at the T3 level. A tumor resection and T1-T5 pedicle screw fixation were performed. Twelve hours after spinal surgery, she complained of unexpected dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. A total of 850mL of serosanguineous fluid had been drained at that time, and drainage was stopped. An urgent brain computed tomography scan showed a cerebellar hemorrhage. She was treated conservatively, and was able to leave hospital six weeks after the initial operation, without any neurological deficits except for slight ataxia.

Conclusions

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage has to be suspected when unexpected neurological signs occur after spinal surgery. If an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid drains from the drainage tube after spinal surgery, drainage should be stopped.

Remote Cerebellar Infarction after Supratentorial Craniotomy and Its Management: Two Case Reports

The cerebellar infarction resulting from supratentorial craniotomy is uncommon event and its management has been controversial. After removal of space occupying lesion on right frontal area, two cases of remote cerebellar infarctions occurred. We reviewed each cases and the techniques to manage such complications are discussed. Early extraventricular catheter insertion and midline suboccipital craniectomy were effectively performed in obtunded patients from cerebellar infarction.

Remote Cerebellar Haemorrhage after Spinal Surgery

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of spinal surgery resulting from inadvertent opening of the dura. The precise mechanism of this type of haemorrhage remains undetermined. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show a ‘Zebra sign’ representing the horizontal curvilinear configuration of haemorrhage between the cerebellar folia.

Supratentorial subdural hemorrhage of a previous head injury and cerebellar hemorrhage after cervical spinal surgery: a case report and review of the literature

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of an acute supratentorial subdural hemorrhage (SDH) of a previous head injury site and cerebellar hemorrhage, after an incidental dural tear during spine surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Intracranial hemorrhage, such as subdural, cerebellar, subarachnoid, and epidural hemorrhage after a dural tear during spinal surgery, is a rare and poorly recognized complication. Moreover, only 3 cases in patients with concurrent SDH and cerebellar hemorrhage have been described in the literature, and none of these reports demonstrated the bleeding point on the adhesion site of the dural at the regions of the previous head injury.

METHODS

A case report and literature review are presented.

RESULTS

A 46-year-old male underwent occipital cervical surgery for os odontoideum. Intraoperatively, a dural tear was noted and repaired, but he later developed postoperative disturbance of consciousness. A head computed tomographic scan revealed a supratentorial SDH and cerebellar hemorrhage. Evacuation of the supratentorial SDH was performed via craniotomy, and the bleeding point was revealed to be on the adhesion site of the dural where the patient had experienced a previous head injury. The patient made a full recovery.

CONCLUSION

This report illustrates that cerebrospinal fluid leakage after a dural tear during spinal surgery may cause intracranial hemorrhage. A previous head trauma could be a risk factor for such hemorrhagic complications. Headache, nausea, and postoperative stupor after spinal surgery, especially after an accidental durotomy, should be considered possible indications of intracranial hemorrhage, and affected patients should be investigated with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.

Supratentorial Intraparenchymal Haemorrhages during Spine Surgery

Intracranial haemorrhages are rare but potentially life-threatening complications of spine surgery. Most reported cases involved subdural or cerebellar haemorrhages; supratentorial parenchymal bleeding is very uncommon. We report a 28-year-old woman who underwent resection of a thoracic Ewing's sarcoma, and developed fatal haemorrhages around her cerebral metastases during surgery. The clinical presentations, possible pathogenesis and potential preventive measures are discussed. Patients with disseminated metastases within the neural axis are at risks of intracranial complications during spine surgery. The presence of intracranial mass lesions should be considered as a relative contraindication to intradural spine surgery.

Postoperative spine complications

Imaging of the postoperative spine is common, although it remains a difficult task for radiologists. This article presents an overview of common surgical approaches and spinal hardware, and specific complications that may be associated with each procedure. In addition, expected postoperative changes and complications that are common among procedures, with their differential diagnosis and imaging features, are discussed.

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage as an early and potentially lethal complication of a discal lumbar herniation surgery

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is an infrequent but serious complication after lumbar herniation surgery. Little is known about this complication but excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is thought to be a leading cause of RCH. We describe the case of a patient suffering from a life-threatening RCH, which occurred a few hours after lumbar disc herniation surgery.

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage after lumbar spine surgery: case report

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) is a well-described complication of supratentorial surgical procedures with an incidence ranging between 0.2 and 4.9 %, but is a rare complication of spinal surgery. We report a case of RCH in a 65-year-old woman who showed sudden mental deterioration 48 h after lumbar spinal surgery, which was complicated by incidental dural tearing with minimal CSF loss. Brain CT scan revealed hypodense areas compatible with acute infarction involving mostly the left cerebellar hemisphere. No cerebral bleeding was observed. MRI was also performed revealing small cerebellar areas of acute infarction mainly relating the vermis and the left postero-inferior cerebellar hemisphere with haemorrhagic transformation and mass effect in the posterior fossa producing acute hydrocephalus. Haematoma removal was initially attempted by means of a suboccipital craniotomy. An external ventricular derivation was placed in a second procedure 24 h later due to the persistence of ventricular dilatation. At discharge the patient was only showing a slight dysmetria with the fine motor skills of hands and fingers. All cases of RCH after spinal surgery reported in the literature are invariably associated to iatrogenic dural tearing; although CSF loss seems to play the key role in the pathogenesis of this rare complication, the exact pathophysiology of this condition still remains undetermined.

Intracranial hemorrhage after spine surgery

OBJECT

The authors describe the largest case series of 8 patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after spinal surgery and identify associated pre-, intra-, and postoperative risk factors in relation to outcome.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the cases of 8 patients treated over 16 years at a single institution and also reviewed the existing literature and collected demographic, treatment, and outcome information from 33 unique cases of remote ICH after spinal surgery.

RESULTS

The risk factors most correlated with ICH postoperatively were the presence of a CSF leak intraoperatively and the use of drains postoperatively with moderate hourly serosanguineous output in the early postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracranial hemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal surgery that is associated with CSF leakage and use of drains postoperatively, with moderate serosanguinous output. These associations do not justify a complete avoidance of drains in patients with CSF leakage but may guide the treating physician to keep in mind drain output and timing of drain removal, while noting any changes in neurological examination status in the meantime. Additionally, continued and worsening neurological symptoms after spinal surgery may warrant cranial imaging to rule out intracranial hemorrhage, usually within the first 24 hours after surgery. The presence of cerebellar hemorrhage and hydrocephalus indicated a trend toward worse outcome.

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after intradural disc surgery

We report a rare case of remote cerebellar hemorrhage after intradural disc surgery at the L1-2 level. Two days after the spine surgery, patient complained unexpected headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. From the urgently conducted brain CT, it was reported that the patient had cerebellar hemorrhage. Occipital craniotomy and hematoma evacuation was performed, and hemorrhagic lesion on the right cerebellum was effectively removed. After occipital craniotomy, the patient showed signs of improvement on headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. He was able to leave the hospital after two weeks of initial operation without any neurological deficit. Remote cerebellar hemorrhage following spinal surgery is extremely rare, but may occur from dural damage of spinal surgery, accompanied with cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Early diagnosis is particularly important for the optimal treatment of remote cerebellar hemorrhage.

Remote peritentorial hemorrhage complicating supratentorial aneurysmal surgery: a report of three cases and literature review

We herein coin the term "remote peritentorial hemorrhage (RPTH)" and present three cases with "RPTH" after supratentorial aneurysmal surgeries, including two with remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) and one with remote temporobasal hemorrhage. The RCH may result from rupture of the superior cerebellar veins due to excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) loss. The mechanism behind the remote temporobasal hemorrhage may be similar to that of RCH. It can be explained by tearing of the temporobasal veins as a result of brain shift owing to intracranial hypotension stemming from intensive loss of CSF. As far as we know, this is the first report of such a bleeding pattern of probable venous origin. The results of this study could shed light on the "RPTH" physiopathology.

Symptomatic postlaminectomy cerebrospinal fluid leak treated with 4-dimensional ultrasound-guided epidural blood patch

BACKGROUND

A persistent cerebrospinal fluid leak after spinal surgery can be associated with both meningitis and/or pneumocephalus. Therefore, early active intervention is recommended with surgical exploration, lumbar subarachnoid drain, and less commonly epidural blood patch. In the absence of a ligamentum flavum, the use of high-resolution ultrasound (US) spine imaging enables real-time advancement of a Tuohy needle towards the dura and the precise injection of blood to cover the dural defect.

METHODS

Six patients, after lumbar spine surgery with instrumentation and primary closure was complicated by incidental dural tears, developed severe symptomatic headaches that failed conservative therapy. All patients underwent US-guided epidural blood patch. Precise needle advancement to the dura was observed with US guidance, and 4-dimensional US scanning was used to confirm the expansion of blood over the dura in real time.

RESULTS

All patients had symptomatic relief of their headaches and successful treatment of dural leaks using US-guided blood patch.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-time US guidance allowed accurate positioning of the Tuohy needle and deposition of the epidural blood patch in the setting of a surgically removed ligamentum flavum. Further investigations are needed to confirm that an US-guided epidural blood patch may offer reliable symptomatic relief to postsurgical persistent cerebrospinal fluid leak and may serve as an intermediate step along a spectrum between conservative initial management and surgical reexploration.

Lumbar spine fusion surgery and stroke: a national cohort study

PURPOSE

To investigate the incidence and risk of stroke after lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

METHOD

Study subjects were identified from a nationwide cohort of 1 million people from 2000 to 2005 and were divided into the lumbar spinal fusion group (n = 2,015), who received posterior lumbar spinal fusion surgery, and the comparison group (n = 16,120) composed of age-, sex-, and propensity score-matched control subjects. The matching process was intended to adjust for demographics, comorbidities, and other immeasurable covariates to minimize selection bias. All subjects were followed up for 3 years for stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The overall incidence rate of stroke in the cohort was 9.99 per 1,000 person-year. The lumbar spinal fusion group was less likely to have any stroke (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.83, p = 0.293), hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR = 0.74, p = 0.739) and ischemic stroke (adjusted HR = 0.81, p = 0.250) than the comparison group, but without significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Three years post-operatively, patients who received lumbar spinal fusion had stroke incidence rates similar to those without surgery. Posterior lumbar spinal fusion surgery is not associated with increased risks for any kind of stroke.

The risk of stroke after spinal fusion surgery: a national cohort study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Postoperative stroke is a rare complication of spinal fusion surgery, but its relevant risk and incidence remain unclear.

PURPOSE

To investigate the incidence and risk of stroke after spinal fusion surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

All study subjects were extracted from a nationwide representative cohort of one million people from 2000 to 2005.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic, during the study period.

METHODS

An exposure group of 2,249 subjects who received spinal fusion surgery during the study period was compared with 2,203 control subjects matched by age, sex, and propensity score. All were followed up for 3 years for all kinds of stroke. Demographics, comorbidities, and nonmeasurable covariates were matched between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed, with adjustments by Cox regression model.

RESULTS

There were 4,452 subjects, including 2,249 spinal fusion patients and 2,203 controls, who were followed up for 12,967 person-years. The incidence rates of any, hemorrhagic, and ischemic strokes were 9.95, 1.21, and 8.86, respectively, per 1,000 person-years in the spinal fusion group and 11.5, 1.69, and 9.93, respectively, in the comparison group. Patients who received spinal fusion surgery were less likely to have any stroke (crude hazard ratio [HR]=0.87, p=.393), hemorrhagic stroke (HR=0.72, p=.473), and ischemic stroke (HR=0.89, p=.582) than the comparison group but without statistical significance. After adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and medications, there were still no significant differences for risks of any, hemorrhagic, and ischemic strokes (adjusted HR=0.89, 1.36, and 0.87; p=.522, .553, and .477, respectively) in the spinal fusion group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving spinal fusion surgery have similar incidence rates of having a stroke within 3 years postoperation as those without surgery. Risks of any postoperative stroke are similar or insignificantly lower in the spinal fusion group.

Remote cerebral and cerebellar hemorrhage after massive cerebrospinal fluid leakage

Dural tears can occur during spinal surgery and may lead to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage which is rarely involved in remote cerebellar hemorrhage. Only a few of cases of simultaneous cerebral and cerebellar hemorrhage have been reported in the English literature. We experienced a case of multiple remote cerebral and cerebellar hemorrhages in a 63-year-old man who exhibited no significant neurologic deficits after spinal surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 4 days after the surgery showed a large amount of CSF leakage in the lumbosacral space. The patient underwent the second surgery for primary repair of the dural defect, but complained of headache after dural repair surgery. Brain MRI taken 6 days after the dural repair surgery revealed multifocal remote intracerebral and cerebellar hemorrhages in the right temporal lobe and both cerebellar hemispheres. We recommend diagnostic imaging to secure early identification and treatment of this complication in order to prevent serious neurologic deficits.

Remote intracranial parenchymal haematomas as complications of spinal surgery: presentation of three cases with minor or untypical symptoms

INTRODUCTION

Intracranial haemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal surgery. Three cases of cerebral or cerebellar haemorrhages following spinal operations with CSF loss are reported, and the literature was reviewed.

CASE PRESENTATIONS

One patient suffered from melancholy after the operation, one patient had moderate headache and nausea, and the third patient suffered from mental confusion and anxiety. The intracranial haemorrhages were treated conservatively. All patients recovered from the bleedings.

RESULTS

The cases show that cerebral or cerebellar haemorrhage after spinal CSF loss may be accompanied by minor or rather untypical clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The dangerous complication of intracranial haemorrhage has to be kept in mind when patients have moderate cerebral symptoms after CSF loss due to spinal operations.