Postoperative Brown–Séquard syndrome complicated by spinal epidural haematoma after cervical laminoplasty: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Symptomatic epidural hematoma after cervical laminoplasty has a reported incidence rate of 0.44%–1.2%. This case study examined a 47-year-old man who presented with dorsal cord compression from cervical vertebrae C3 to C7 and underwent unilateral open-door laminoplasty (left to right side) and a partial laminectomy of C2–C7. At 5 h after surgery, the patient experienced left-side weakness that rapidly developed into hemiparesis, but pain and temperature sensation remained constant on both sides. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a left epidural haematoma compressing the spinal cord from C3 to C6 that resulted in Brown–Séquard syndrome. The hematoma was evacuated 2 h after the onset of symptoms. The patient recovered successfully after surgical decompression.

Keywords

• Brown
• Séquard syndrome
• Spinal epidural hematoma
• Laminoplasty