Symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by postsurgical pseudomeningocele

we report the first case of symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by postsurgical pseudomeningocele. a 49-year-old man sought treatment for progressive loss of strength in the lower extremities ten months after full neurological recovery for a thoracic (t11) intradural-extramedullary schwannoma. magnetic resonance imaging revealed a postsurgical thoracic (t11-t12) pseudomeningocele. the surgical approach showed an inadequate dural closure with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid fistula. the defect was sealed with suture, muscle and biological glue covering. the patient had a good recovery. pseudomeningocele must take part of the differential diagnosis of myelopathy after thoracic spine surgery.