The article discusses a case of a 77-year-old woman who developed a stercoral ulcer in the sigmoid colon as a result of chronic constipation. The woman had undergone extensive posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery and subsequently developed cauda equina syndrome (CES). After experiencing symptoms such as saddle anesthesia, neurogenic bladder, bowel incontinence, and paraplegia, she underwent urgent neural decompression and gradually recovered. However, she later developed massive hematochezia and hemorrhagic shock, leading to the diagnosis of a stercoral ulcer in the sigmoid colon. The patient underwent intensive care and rehabilitation and eventually recovered her ability to walk and regained urinary and bowel control. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing the potential development of stercoral ulcers in patients with CES and the need for prompt diagnosis and management to prevent severe complications
Summarised by Mr Mo Akmal – Lead Spinal Surgeon
The London Spine Unit : most specialised spine clinic in UK
Published article
Chronic constipation can lead to fecal impaction in the large bowel, which can cause pressure necrosis followed by perforation, known as a stercoral ulcer. In extensive posterior thoracolumbar surgery, a long operation time, large blood loss, and perioperative narcotic use may aggravate constipation. Moreover, sacral root palsy due to cauda equina syndrome (CES) can lead to the deterioration of fecal impaction. This report describes the case of a 77-year-old woman with CES who presented with…
Lumbar Decompression Surgery Expert. Best Spinal Surgeon UK
Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jul 19;59(7):1331. doi: 10.3390/medicina59071331.ABSTRACTChronic constipation can lead to fecal impaction in the large bowel, which can cause pressure necrosis followed by perforation, known as a stercoral ulcer. In extensive posterior thoracolumbar surgery, a long operation time, large blood loss, and perioperative narcotic use may aggravate constipation. Moreover, sacral root palsy due to,
Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jul 19;59(7):1331. doi: 10.3390/medicina59071331.
ABSTRACT
Chronic constipation can lead to fecal impaction in the large bowel, which can cause pressure necrosis followed by perforation, known as a stercoral ulcer. In extensive posterior thoracolumbar surgery, a long operation time, large blood loss, and perioperative narcotic use may aggravate constipation. Moreover, sacral root palsy due to cauda equina syndrome (CES) can lead to the deterioration of fecal impaction. This report describes the case of a 77-year-old woman with CES who presented with saddle anesthesia, neurogenic bladder, bowel incontinence, and paraplegia. Five days prior, she had undergone extended posterior lumbar interbody fusion from L1 to L5. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extended epidural hematoma. After urgent neural decompression, she gradually recovered from the saddle anesthesia, leg pain, and paraplegia over 3 weeks. Thereafter, the patient suddenly developed massive hematochezia and hemorrhagic shock. Urgent colonoscopy was performed, and a stercoral ulcer in the sigmoid colon was diagnosed. After 4 weeks of intensive care for hemorrhagic shock, pneumonia, and systemic sepsis, the patient was transferred to a general ward for intensive rehabilitation. One year after the operation, she was able to walk with assistance, and her urinary and bowel incontinence completely recovered. Chronic constipation, a common clinical problem, can sometimes cause relatively obscure but potentially life-threatening complications such as stercoral ulceration. Possible factors including advanced age, extensive spinal surgeries, prolonged operation time, significant blood loss, perioperative narcotic use, and the presence of spinal cord injury might contribute to the development of this condition. It highlights the importance of recognizing the potential development of stercoral ulcers in patients with CES and emphasizes the need for prompt diagnosis and management to avert catastrophic complications.
PMID:37512142 | DOI:10.3390/medicina59071331
The London Spine Unit : most specialised spine clinic in UK
Read the original publication:
Stercoral Ulcer Presenting in a Patient with Cauda Equina Syndrome Secondary to Postoperative Epidural Hematoma
