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Oculomotor Nerve Palsy in the Emergency Department: A Complication of Epidural Injection.
- Source :
-
Journal of Emergency Medicine (0736-4679) . Feb2020, Vol. 58 Issue 2, pe67-e69. 3p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Epidural injections are routinely used for management of radicular pain and are prevalent nonsurgical interventions for chronic low back pain. Pneumocephalus is a rare complication that may occur as a result of inadvertent dural puncture with an epidural needle. Pneumocephalus-induced cranial nerve deficit is also rare, with only a few reported cases.<bold>Case Report: </bold>We report a case of a 61-year-old woman with a chief complaint of diplopia after she underwent epidural injection for chronic lumbar pain. Her examination was remarkable for a partial right oculomotor nerve palsy. We obtained a computed tomography brain scan, which revealed pneumocephalus. She was managed conservatively and reported complete symptom resolution after 2 weeks. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Pneumocephalus is an uncommon complication of epidural spinal injections. Emergency physicians should include this on the differential for a patient presenting with cranial nerve deficit after this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 07364679
- Volume :
- 58
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Emergency Medicine (0736-4679)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 142888624
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.10.009