International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.08.040 · Published: August 25, 2020
Adhesive arachnoiditis is an uncommon condition resulting from inflammation of spinal nerves. This case report describes a patient who developed delayed symptomatic thoracolumbar adhesive arachnoiditis after spinal surgery for a traumatic flexion-distraction injury. The patient, a 51-year-old man, initially underwent surgery to address a flexion-distraction injury. However, three months post-surgery, he developed severe pain and sensory issues, leading to a diagnosis of adhesive arachnoiditis at the surgical site. Treatment with gabapentin led to a significant reduction in the patient's symptoms. The authors suggest that developments in MRI technology aid in evaluating such lesions and that gabapentin may be a beneficial treatment option.
Spine surgeons should be aware of delayed arachnoiditis as a potential complication following spinal surgery, especially in cases of traumatic injuries.
Gabapentin may be considered as a treatment option for patients presenting with delayed-onset postoperative adhesive arachnoiditis.
MRI is critical for identifying affected spinal structures and diagnosing adhesive arachnoiditis, particularly with advancements in metal artifact reduction techniques.