Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after intradural disc surgery

Abstract

We report a rare case of remote cerebellar hemorrhage after intradural disc surgery at the L1-2 level. Two days after the spine surgery, patient complained unexpected headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. From the urgently conducted brain CT, it was reported that the patient had cerebellar hemorrhage. Occipital craniotomy and hematoma evacuation was performed, and hemorrhagic lesion on the right cerebellum was effectively removed. After occipital craniotomy, the patient showed signs of improvement on headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. He was able to leave the hospital after two weeks of initial operation without any neurological deficit. Remote cerebellar hemorrhage following spinal surgery is extremely rare, but may occur from dural damage of spinal surgery, accompanied with cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Early diagnosis is particularly important for the optimal treatment of remote cerebellar hemorrhage. © 2013 The Korean Neurosurgical Society.