Management of broken catheter during neuroplasty using epidural balloon catheter for lumbar spinal stenosis - A case report.

BACKGROUND: Breakage of balloon-less Racz neuroplasty catheters is a rare complication of neuroplasty; however, shearing of balloon catheters during epidural neuroplasty has not been reported. CASE: Herein, we report a case of a broken epidural balloon catheter during neuroplasty. A 76-year-old female underwent percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (PEN) using a Racz catheter, epidural steroid injection, and medial branch block for lumbar spinal stenosis 6 months ago. However, her symptoms did not improve. Subsequently, we performed a PEN using an inflatable balloon catheter. During the procedure, the epidural balloon catheter became trapped, broke, and could not be retrieved. Subsequently, the patient complained of leg pain and numbness. Therefore, surgery was performed to remove the broken catheter, resolving the leg pain and numbness. CONCLUSIONS: This case report supports the surgical removal of broken catheters to avoid the aggravation of symptoms and the development of neurological deficits.