Cerebellar herniation and infarction as a complication of an occult postoperative lumbar dural defect.

Abstract

A patient who underwent lumbar spine surgery sustained an occult dural injury. After unrecognized suction drainage of cerebrospinal fluid through a surgical drain, caudal herniation of the cerebellum with superior cerebellar infarction developed. This mechanism should be considered in patients in whom acute mental status changes develop after spinal surgery.

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