[Conus cauda syndrome after spinal anesthesia].

Abstract

Nowadays spinal cord anesthesia is, when indicated, a standardized and acknowledged medical procedure with a low complication rate. This is also true of neurological after-effects, like spinal paralysis, which are greatly feared, especially by medical laymen. In the following case report we describe a charge against anesthesiologists, who were accused of causing a conus-cauda syndrome after spinal cord anesthesia. Neurological examinations led to the diagnosis of an anesthesia-independent Tethered-Cord-Syndrome (TCS). In most cases the patients' fear can be alleviated by clear explanations about the method. The indication for the method of anesthesia is also based on a thorough body examination. If the documentation of the treatment is faulty or incomplete it can be used against the physician facing a lawsuit more easily. The aim of this case report is to remind anesthesiologists of the rare TCS and to emphasise again the importance of using standardized procedures and correct documentation, which can be very helpful for the physician facing unjustified claims in case of medical litigation.