SPINAL SUBARACHNOID HEMATOMA AFTER SPINAL -ANESTHESIA AND LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARIN

A case is reported of spinal subarachnoid haematoma occurring after sp inal anaesthesia. The patient was given prophylactic pre and postopera tive low molecular weight heparin. On the second postoperative day, he complained of backache and got a partial cauda equina syndrome. Magne tic resonance imaging carried out on the 6th day confirmed the presenc e of a spinal haematoma, which was removed surgically. One year later, the bilateral motor palsy which had involved several roots, had compl etely regressed. It remained a severe sensory loss associated with a l oss of sphincter control. This case highlights the role of predisposin g factors and the importance of early diagnosis.