Peripheral nerve and root lesions developing as a result of haematoma formation during anticoagulant treatment

Abstract

Summary Three further cases of peripheral nerve and root lesions occurring during anticoagulant therapy are described. The literature is briefly reviewed.

Retroperitoneal haemorrhage and neuropathy complicating anticoagulant therapy

“…Reiter (1966) described three cases presenting as an acute abdomen and similar cases were seen by Larsen et al (1962), Hafner et al (1962) and Hodin (1962. Isolated cases presenting as an acute neurological lesion have been described by several authors, Pieri and Pinas (1964);Spurny et al (1964); Strain (1964); Prill (1965) and Gallois, Dhers and Badarov (1967), and more recently Lange (1966) collected four cases and Parkes and Kidner (1970) three cases presenting as femoral or sciatic nerve palsies. The majority of these cases occurred in patients on oral anticoagulants in contrast to the present series where the majority of the patients were on heparin.…”

Acute Anticoagulant-Induced Compressive Lumbar Plexus Neuropathy

“…As experience has shown that, in some cases, surgical decompression of the haemor rhage results in enhancing recovery after the operation [Parkes and Kidner, 1970;Gertzbein and Evans, 1972;Koumis et al, 1975;Young and Norris, 1976;Zarranz et al, 1978], we feel that in cases of compressive peripheral neuropathies due to retroperito neal haemorrhage, decompression (with the other general methods of treatment) should be seriously considered in each case.…”