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Case Reports
. 2013 Jul;26(3):286-90.
doi: 10.3344/kjp.2013.26.3.286. Epub 2013 Jul 1.

Motor Weakness after Caudal Epidural Injection Using the Air-acceptance Test

Mi Hyeon Lee  1 , Cheol Sig Han, Sang Hoon Lee, Jeong Hyun Lee, Eun Mi Choi, Young Ryong Choi, Mi Hwa Chung
Affiliations
Case Reports

Motor Weakness after Caudal Epidural Injection Using the Air-acceptance Test

Mi Hyeon Lee et al. Korean J Pain. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Air injected into the epidural space may spread along the nerves of the paravertebral space. Depending on the location of the air, neurologic complications such as multiradicular syndrome, lumbar root compression, and even paraplegia may occur. However, cases of motor weakness caused by air bubbles after caudal epidural injection are rare. A 44-year-old female patient received a caudal epidural injection after an air-acceptance test. Four hours later, she complained of motor weakness in the right lower extremity and numbness of the S1 dermatome. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no anomalies other than an air bubble measuring 13 mm in length and 0.337 ml in volume positioned near the right S1 root. Her symptoms completely regressed within 48 hours.

Keywords: caudal epidural block; complications; epidural air; epidural injection.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MRI. T1-weighted MRI shows a low signal lesion, identified as an air bubble (white arrow) adjacent to the right S1 root (black arrow).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MRI. T2-weighted MRI shows a low signal lesion, identified as an air bubble (white arrow) adjacent to the right S1 root (black arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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