Remote intracranial parenchymal haematomas as complications of spinal surgery: presentation of three cases with minor or untypical symptoms.

Abstract

Intracranial haemorrhage is a rare complication of spinal surgery. Three cases of cerebral or cerebellar haemorrhages following spinal operations with CSF loss are reported, and the literature was reviewed. One patient suffered from melancholy after the operation, one patient had moderate headache and nausea, and the third patient suffered from mental confusion and anxiety. The intracranial haemorrhages were treated conservatively. All patients recovered from the bleedings. The cases show that cerebral or cerebellar haemorrhage after spinal CSF loss may be accompanied by minor or rather untypical clinical symptoms. The dangerous complication of intracranial haemorrhage has to be kept in mind when patients have moderate cerebral symptoms after CSF loss due to spinal operations.