Prolonged Weakness and Paresthesia After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Patient with Sickle Cell Anemia Receiving Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Case: This report describes a case of prolonged neurologic deficit of primarily the nonoperative lower extremity in a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD) who received spinal anesthesia during revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The patient initially showed bilateral lower extremity neurologic deficits localized to the L5/S1 nerve root, with the eventual persistence of symptoms in the nonoperative extremity for >1 year. Conclusions: This report describes an unusual complication after THA and spinal anesthesia. This case highlights the rare occurrence of nerve root injury after spinal anesthesia and emphasizes the importance of close perioperative monitoring in patients with SCD undergoing orthopaedic surgery.