This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Tubbs, R. S.
Right arrow Articles by Oakes, W. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Tubbs, R. S.
Right arrow Articles by Oakes, W. J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Premature & Newborn
PEDIATRICS Vol. 113 No. 5 May 2004, pp. 1403-1405

EXPERIENCE AND REASON

Intramedullary Hemorrhage in a Neonate After Lumbar Puncture Resulting in Paraplegia: A Case Report

R. Shane Tubbs, MS, PA-C, PhD*,{ddagger}, Matthew D. Smyth, MD*, John C. Wellons, III, MD* and W. Jerry Oakes, MD*

* Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama
{ddagger} Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

We present the case of a premature infant with decreased spontaneous movement of the lower extremities. Imaging was demonstrative of a lesion of the conus medullaris. Operatively and with histologic confirmation, the mass was determined to be a blood clot originating from the conus. Retrospectively, the patient had a known lumbar puncture. There were no clotting abnormalities in this patient. At long-term follow-up, the child continues to have lower extremity paresis and incontinence of bowel and bladder. Clinicians should consider the lower termination of the conus medullaris in the infant, especially in the preterm infant.

Key Words: cerebrospinal fluid • children • paralysis • spinal cord

Abbreviations: MRI, magnetic resonance imaging • CSF, cerebrospinal fluid

Received for publication May 12, 2003; Accepted Aug 18, 2003.