Three Cases of Hematoma Formation after Nerve Block Therapy or Lumbar Anesthesia

Abstract

Nerve block therapy has been used for pain control with effective results. Lumbar anesthesia has slso been a useful method of anesthesia for several kinds of operations. However, these procedures are administered with needle puncture and include several serious complications such as infection, nerve injury or hematoma formation, possibly resulting in serious neurological deficits. In the present study, the authors reported 3 cases of hematoma formation following nerve block therapy or lumbar anesthesia. Case 1 showed an epidural hematoma at the L2-L3 level after epidural nerve block. Case 2 showed retropharyngeal hematoma formation after stellate ganglion block. Case 3 showed a subarachnoid hematoma following lumbar anesthesia resulting in acute paraplegia. Case 1 and Case 2 were conservatively followed up and Case 3 was treated by laminectomy and hematoma removal. The effectiveness of MRI in detecting hematoma formation following nerve block therapy was reported and the treatment modalities for these complications were discussed.