Cauda Equina Syndrome Secondary to Incidental Hemorrhagic Ependymoma Following Spinal Anesthesia: A Case Report and Comprehensive Review

Spinal ependymomas are rare primary central nervous system tumors that often exhibit vague symptoms before being identified. In extremely rare situations, it can be identified after a neurological decline following a history of spinal anesthesia, indicating intraspinal hemorrhages from an incidental lumbar ependymoma that was not previously diagnosed. Spinal anesthesia is widely utilized in numerous orthopedic surgical procedures, as it is a well-tolerated invasive procedure with a low risk of complications. The patient in this case study underwent elective orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia following two unsuccessful trials with spinal anesthesia. Subsequently, the patient developed paraplegia as a result of an incidental hemorrhagic spinal ependymoma. The patient had an L3 laminectomy for decompression of the dural sheath, and an ependymoma was confirmed based on the histopathological assessment. This case report aims to raise awareness regarding the potential complication of spinal anesthesia arising from incidental tumors of the spinal cord, thereby emphasizing the imperative of early recognition and management in order to mitigate adverse outcomes.