Erosion of the inferior epigastric artery: A rare complication of intrathecal drug delivery systems

Abstract

Intrathecal baclofen is an invaluable therapeutic modality in the management of severe spasticity, especially in patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord and brain injuries. This case report presents a rare complication of long-term intrathecal infusion with the development of a huge anterior abdominal wall hematoma with extension to the retroperitoneal space as a result of a repeated blunt trauma to the site of the intrathecal pump with erosion of the inferior epigastric artery. This inferior epigastric artery erosion could be avoided by implanting the intrathecal pump laterally away from the rectus abdominus muscle sheath. © American Academy of Pain Medicine.