Acute cervical myelopathy with quadriparesis after cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection: A case report

RATIONALE: Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI), can be an effective tool to improve pain associated with cervical radiculopathy. However, complications related to the procedure have been reported. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old woman who experienced acute cervical myelopathy with quadriparesis after cervical TFESI under fluoroscopic guidance. DIAGNOSES: The initial post-procedure cervical MRI revealed acute cervical myelopathy INTERVENTIONS: She received 1000 mg of methylprednisolone was injected intravenously daily for 3 days OUTCOMES: Improvement in pain, with the only remaining complaints consisting of lingering mild pain in the left hand and occasional hypoesthesia LESSONS: Cervical TFESI, despite careful fluoroscopic localization, resulted in spinal cord injury. A spinal cord injury may be treated with conservative treatments, such as medication and rehabilitation.