Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury After Posterior Cervical Laminectomy

Ischemia-reperfusion injury can occur after spinal decompression surgery. It's rare but serious, potentially leading to paralysis. The injury involves damage from oxidative stress when blood flow returns to a previously ischemic spinal cord. The condition is characterized by spinal cord softening (myelomalacia) and specific changes seen on MRI scans. Treatment often includes steroids and rehabilitation to aid recovery. This case report describes a patient who developed quadriplegia after posterior laminectomy. The patient had pre-existing conditions contributing to cervical stenosis. Postoperative MRI showed spinal cord edema.

• 1
  The patient developed diffuse cord edema and postoperative quadriplegia after undergoing posterior cervical laminectomy for severe cervical stenosis.
• 2
  Postoperative MRI revealed substantial C2-C5 central cord edema without pathological diffusion restriction, along with progressive signal abnormality at T1-T2.
• 3
  Despite treatment with dexamethasone and hypertonic saline, the patient failed to regain significant motor or sensory function after a prolonged hospital stay.