Acute hemorrhagic complication of diagnostic lumbar puncture

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of an epidural hematoma after lumbar puncture in a pediatric patient without known risk factors for such a complication and to review the literature regarding this complication. DESIGN: Case report, review of the literature, and discussion. DATA SOURCES: A review of MEDLINE (1966-1998) for keywords "lumbar puncture" and "hemorrhage" or "hematoma" was conducted, and each bibliography was reviewed for other sources extending to 1911. Articles describing a case of spinal hematoma after a lumbar puncture for any procedure were included. RESULTS: A 5-year-old boy underwent a lumbar puncture for evaluation of lethargy and fever, and subsequently developed marked back pain and severe pain on flexion of his legs. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an epidural blood collection. The patient's symptoms resolved over the next few days in association with steroid administration. Multiple reports of epidural and subdural hematomas were found on literature review, most occurring in the setting of coagulation abnormalities. These reports involve lumbar puncture in anesthetic, interventional, and diagnostic settings. CONCLUSION: Lumbar puncture is a frequently employed procedure. Known complications include epidural, subdural, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, usually in the setting of abnormal coagulation. The case presented is unusual in that the patient is a child and lacks any known risk factors for a hemorrhagic complication. Such a complication appears to be rare; only five of the 64 cases discovered in the literature review occurred following this diagnostic procedure in patients without known risk factors.