Abstract
This case series describes four children who had meningitis in the neonatal period. After a stable period of years, they developed a myelopathy caused by chronic arachnoiditis. The myelopathy was precipitated by a fall in two cases, and in two cases there was an acute deterioration after surgery. A history of neonatal meningitis should be taken into consideration before planning surgery or anaesthesia. Careful intra-operative positioning, immobilisation of the neck, and maintenance of blood pressure is important but may not prevent this complication.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Arachnoiditis / etiology*
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Arachnoiditis / pathology
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Arachnoiditis / surgery
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Fatal Outcome
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Female
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Humans
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Hydrocephalus / complications
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Hydrocephalus / pathology
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Infant, Newborn
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Male
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Meningitis, Bacterial / complications*
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Meningitis, Escherichia coli / complications
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Meningitis, Escherichia coli / pathology
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / complications
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Meningitis, Pneumococcal / pathology
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Neurosurgical Procedures
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Spinal Cord / pathology
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Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology*
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Spinal Cord Diseases / pathology
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Spinal Cord Diseases / surgery
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt