Abstract

We describe a case of severe back pain following thoracic epidural placement. We discuss the differential for such a case, and the management as well.

One of the most feared complications of epidural placement is epidural hematoma. Back pain following epidural catheter placement can have several causes, from those of a trivial nature to those that are a true medical emergency, and can range in degree from mildly sore to excruciating in nature. We present a case of severe back pain shortly following epidural catheter placement that mimicked epidural hematoma but was not.