Complication of Myelography — Transection and Withdrawal of a Nerve Filament by the Needle

COMPLICATIONS of myelography can result from lumbar puncture or from the injected contrast material. Needle puncture has caused meningitis,1 herniation of disk material1 , 2 and intraspinal epidermoid formation.3 The injection of myelographic contrast substance has resulted in death from hydrocephalus secondary to inflammation and obliteration of intracranial subarachnoid spaces,4 , 5 venous intravasation,6 pulmonary embolism7 and adhesive arachnoiditis.8 Morettin and Wilson9 reported two cases of Sudeck's atrophy that followed myelography, and speculated that needle injury of a nerve root could have been the cause. The case presented below supports that speculation; routine myelography resulted in transection and withdrawal of a 7-cm length of . . .