A case of deep paresthesia caused by insertion of an epidural catheter

Abstract

We report our experience in making a difficult diagnosis for a patient who developed deep paresthesia after insertion of an epidural catheter. The case was a 78-year-old male patient who received treatment for herpes zoster in the right-upper extremity. When an epidural catheter was inserted from C6/7 to begin continuous administration, the pain was completely eliminated. After 1 hour of rest, the patient complained of discomfort in his left-lower extremity. Since he continued to have difficulty in standing up, the continuous administration was discontinued. The catheter was removed, and cervical MRI was performed. As a result, intervertebral disc herniation compressing the right C7 nerve root was confirmed. Immediately after removal of the catheter, the symptom was improved. It was considered that deep paresthesia was caused when the epidural catheter compressed the dorsal column of the spinal cord, which was shifted in a posterolateral direction by cervical disc herniation compressing the nerve root similar to that of the herpes zoster.