A Rare Posterior Fossa Complication of Spinal Surgery: Case Report

Department of Neurosurgery, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia

*Corresponding Author: Hajer Kammoun, Department of Neurosurgery, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia, Phone: 99969757, E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: April 06, 2025

Published Date: June 02, 2025

Citation: Kammoun H, et al. (2025). A Rare Posterior Fossa Complication of Spinal Surgery: Case Report. Mathews J Surg. 8(1):38.

Copyrights: Kammoun H, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Background: Remote Cerebellar hemorrhage after spinal surgery is rare, but potentially lethal due to the location of the bleeding. The first reported case was in 1981 by Chadduck. Since then, it was described mostly in cases of intraoperative dural tearings with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, even those repaired intraoperatively. Case presentation: A 48-year-old patient was admitted to our department for bilateral lumbosciatalgia not responding to analgesics, intermittent radicular claudication and vesicosphincteric disorders. The MRI revealed a lumbar stenosis. He underwent from L3 to L5 laminectomy with fusion, complicated by a dural tear repaired intraoperatively. Nevertheless, the patient presented a CSF leak at the surgical scar and acetazolamide was prescribed. Persistent headache and the onset of a cerebellar syndrome motivated the performance of a brain computed tomography showing a left cerebellar hematoma. Hyperhydration and blood pressure monitoring were maintained and the patient was discharged two weeks after surgery. Conclusion: It is important to consider the possibility of remote cerebellar hemorrhage in patients who exhibit unexplained neurological deterioration after spinal surgery, especially when a large volume of CSF has been lost intraoperatively or postoperatively. Early detection and correct interpretation of the typical bleeding pattern can help avoiding further aggravation of symptoms.

Keywords: Cerebellar Hematoma, Spine Surgery, Dural Tearing, Risk Factors.