Case Report

Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 445–447. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101632 Published online 17 May 2005

Oxidised regenerated cellulose as a cause of paraplegia after thoracotomy: case report and review of the literature

S Dogan1, H Kocaeli1 and M Doygun1

1Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Uludag breve University, Bursa, Turkey

Correspondence: S Dogan, Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Uludag breve University, Gorukle, 16059 Bursa, Turkey

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Abstract

Study design:

 

Case report.

Objective:

 

To report an unusual case of paraplegia.

Setting:

 

University Hospital Bursa, Turkey.

Case report:

 

A 22-year-old woman presented with paraplegia following a left-sided thoracotomy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a dorsal epidural mass at the level of T6. The patient underwent an emergency T6/7 laminectomy and removal of a tuft of oxidised regenerated cellulose, which had migrated through the intervertebral foramen causing spinal cord compression.

Conclusion:

 

In cases of neurological deficits after surgery at the posterolateral edge of a thoracotomy, the clinician should be aware of the above possibility. Urgent radiological diagnosis and decompressive laminectomy is the treatment of choice.

Keywords:

oxidised regenerated cellulose, paraplegia, spinal cord compression, thoracotomy

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