PROLONGED NEUROLOGICAL DEFICIT AFTER SPINAL ANAESTHESIA: A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE IN UNDIAGNOSED SPINAL PATHOLOGY PATIENT

Abstract

Spinal anaesthesia is a widely used regional anaesthesia technique known for its effectiveness and safety. However, post-operative neurological deficits, though rare, can pose diagnostic challenges. This case report discusses a 53-year-old male with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent spinal anaesthesia for an emergency incision and drainage of a gluteal abscess. Despite an uneventful perioperative course, the patient developed persistent bilateral lower limb weakness and numbness post-operatively. MRI findings revealed an L4/L5 posterior disc bulge with impingement of the left L4 exiting nerve root, but no evidence of cauda equina syndrome or epidural hematoma. This case underscores the importance of thorough preoperative neurological assessment and the need for differentiating between anaesthesia-related complications and pre-existing spinal pathology. Early multidisciplinary evaluation is crucial in managing prolonged post-spinal anaesthesia neurological deficits.