Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
-
A peripheral nerve or spinal cord injury is a rare but significant complication of regional anesthesia. Evaluation of acute nerve injury includes a focused history and examination to localize the lesion. Confirmatory testing should include electromyography and appropriate imaging. ⋯ The prognosis for cauda equina or spinal cord lesions is more guarded. Recovery from these is commonly incomplete. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to preventing catastrophic neurological outcomes.