We report the first case of symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by postsurgical pseudomeningocele. A 49-year-old man sought treatment for progressive loss of strength in the lower extremities ten months after full neurological recovery for a thoracic (T11) intradural-extramedullary schwannoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a postsurgical thoracic (T11-T12) pseudomeningocele. ⋯ The defect was sealed with suture, muscle and biological glue covering. The patient had a good recovery. Pseudomeningocele must take part of the differential diagnosis of myelopathy after thoracic spine surgery.
Arthur de Azambuja Pereira Filho, Gustavo de David, Gustavo de Azambuja Pereira Filho, and Albert Vincent Berthier Brasil.
Hospital São José, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. arthurpereirafilho@gmail.com
Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2007 Jun 1;65(2A):279-82.
AbstractWe report the first case of symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by postsurgical pseudomeningocele. A 49-year-old man sought treatment for progressive loss of strength in the lower extremities ten months after full neurological recovery for a thoracic (T11) intradural-extramedullary schwannoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a postsurgical thoracic (T11-T12) pseudomeningocele. The surgical approach showed an inadequate dural closure with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid fistula. The defect was sealed with suture, muscle and biological glue covering. The patient had a good recovery. Pseudomeningocele must take part of the differential diagnosis of myelopathy after thoracic spine surgery.