Epidural Hematoma Secondary to Removal of an Epidural Catheter After a Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement is a procedure that is typically associated with severe pain during the first few postoperative days. Continuous analgesia provided through an epidural catheter is a very effective method to relieve pain and facilitate early mobilization of the patient1. A rare complication of epidural analgesia is bleeding within the spinal canal, which can result in the formation of an epidural hematoma and, possibly, the development of a severe neurologic deficit. We report the case of a patient who sustained an epidural hematoma and subsequent paraplegia after removal of an epidural catheter that had been inserted to provide continuous postoperative analgesia. Our patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication.