Dura sac compression due to spinal epidural gas pseudocyst after lumbar decompression surgery: a case report

BackgroundIntraspinal gas pseudocyst is rare, especially following spinal surgery. Here we present a case of spinal epidural gas pseudocyst following lumbar decompression surgery, which caused dura sac compression.Case presentationA 52-years-old woman with chronic lumbar pain and radiating numbness of left leg was admitted to our hospital and underwent a posterior lumbar decompression surgery. 10days later, the patient began to have dysfunction of excretion. CT and MRI were taken and epidural gas was detected, which compressed the dura sac. A huge pseudocyst encapsulated with high-tension air was found during debridement with no evidence of infection.ResultsDebridement surgery was taken to remove the encapsulated gas and cyst wall and her symptoms disappeared soon after the surgery. 2weeks later, routine X-ray was repeated and gas pseudocyst disappeared with no signs of infection.ConclusionGas pseudocyst in the spinal canal is rare, especially after lumbar surgery and causing spinal cord compression. CT and MRI can be used to detect the spinal gas. Once gas pseudocyst causes dura sac compression, proper methods should be chosen to treat this kind of intraspinal gas pseudocyst.