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Facial nerve paralysis and partial brachial plexopathy after epidural blood patch: a case report and review of the literature

Authors Radi S, Bowirrat A

Published 2 February 2011 Volume 2011:4 Pages 39—45

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S15314

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Radi Shahien, Abdalla Bowirrat
Department of Neurology, Ziv Medical Center, Zfat, Israel

Abstract: We report a complication related to epidural analgesia for delivery in a 24-year-old woman who was admitted with mild pre-eclampsia and for induction of labor. At the first postpartum day she developed a postdural puncture headache, which was unresponsive to conservative measures. On the fifth day an epidural blood patch was done, and her headache subsided. Sixteen hours later she developed paralysis of the right facial nerve, which was treated with prednisone. Seven days later she complained of pain in the left arm and the posterior region of the shoulder. She was later admitted and diagnosed with partial brachial plexopathy.

Keywords: facial nerve paralysis, partial brachial plexopathy, epidural blood patch

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