REPEATED EPISODES OF TRANSIENT RADIATING BACK AND LEG PAIN FOLLOWING SPINAL-ANESTHESIA WITH 1.5-PERCENT MEPIVACAINE AND 2-PERCENT LIDOCAINE

Background and Objectives. Transient radiating back and leg pain defin ed as pain or dysesthesias in the buttocks, thighs, or calves within 2 4 to 48 hours after recovery from spinal anesthesia has been described with the use of 2% and 5% lidocaine. These symptoms have also been as sociated with other local anesthetics such as bupivacaine and tetracai ne, although with a much lower incidence. A recent case report and pro spective study have described transient radiating back and leg pain oc curring following spinal anesthesia with 4% mepivacaine. Methods. We d escribe a case of transient radiating back and leg pain following spin al anesthesia with 1.5% mepivacaine in a patient with unrecognized spi nal stenosis who had had repeated episodes of transient radiating back and leg pain associated with lidocaine spinals. Results. Spinal anest hesia with 1.5% mepivacaine was associated with transient radiating ba ck and leg pain, which was similar in quality and duration to prior ep isodes following spinal anesthesia with lidocaine. Conclusions. Transi ent radiating back and leg pain may occur with lower concentrations (1 .5%) of mepivacaine, as it does with lidocaine. The relationship betwe en transient radiating back and leg pain and spinal stenosis is also d iscussed.