Lateral Medullary Syndrome Caused by Prone Position for Spine Surgery

We report a rare case of Wallenberg's lateral medullary syndrome caused by prone position for spine surgery. A 48-year old man developed Wallenberg's syndrome characterized by involuntary myoclonic movements, ataxia on his left side, hyperalgia and cold sensation on his right side after prone position for general anesthesia for the spinal stenosis L3-L4, L4-L5. Brain computed tomography scan was immediately performed and showed negative findings, but magnetic resonance image [MRI] demonstrated brain infarction on the left medulla. Emergent heparinization was performed and his motor power and sensation returned to normal and discharged with stable and satisfactory recovery after 16 days.