Subdural hematoma following lumbar spine surgery

Abstract

The occurrence of subdural hematomas following lumbar spine surgical procedures is a rare complication, but one with a high burden of morbidity and mortality, and despite an incidence rate of around 1%, it is a complication which must be considered in this group of patients. We present the case of a male patient, in the fourth decade of life, with a history of neurofibromatosis and spastic quadriparesis, who developed an altered state of consciousness following lumbar tumor resection, ending in a coma. A simple cranial CAT showed evidence of an acute right subdural hematoma which had to be drained via a craniotomy. He had an unsatisfactory postoperative course and died in the intensive care unit due to ARDS. The national literature has little information on this complication, therefore we believe that this case is an important contribution to the literature.