Seizures Following Spinal Dysraphism - A Series of Four Cases with Literature Review

Seizures are a rare and unexpected complication following spinal surgery. There is paucity of literature about seizure occurrence following spinal surgery including dysraphism. Only a few isolated reports in the form of case reports have been published in literature. So still this entity remains unfamiliar for neurosurgeons and orthopedists operating on traumatic spinal cases or spinal dysraphism. However, seizures can be quite debilitating for the patient leading to unnecessary morbidity and occasional mortality, following an otherwise straightforward surgery. A high index of suspicion needs to be kept for seizures in all patients undergoing spinal surgery with delayed reversal from anesthesia or unexplained altered sensorium. With proper intraoperative and postoperative management, this complication can be avoided. We discuss possible epileptogenic events in the intraoperative and perioperative period, their management along with a review of the pertinent literature.