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Review
. 2019 May 10:10:85.
doi: 10.25259/SNI-121-2019. eCollection 2019.

Cerebellar hemorrhage as a complication of spine surgery

Paulo Valdeci Worm  1   2 , Amauri Dalla-Corte  2 , Albert Vincent Berthier Brasil  1 , Gerson Perondi  2 , Ericson Sfreddo  2 , Antônio Delacy Martini Vial  1 , Guilherme Gago  1 , Pablo Ramon Fruett da Costa  1
Affiliations
Review

Cerebellar hemorrhage as a complication of spine surgery

Paulo Valdeci Worm et al. Surg Neurol Int. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Case report; cerebrospinal fluid leak; remote cerebellar hemorrhage; spinal surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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