Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid puncture (CSFP) is a diagnostically meaningful procedure. We describe an acute tetraplegia in a patient as complication after CSFP.
Case histories: Cervical myelopathy due to posterior os odontoideum subluxation was diagnosed, and an occipitocervical fusion was performed surgically. No significant improvement of the neurological status was observed within the following 3 years.
Conclusions: Neck flexion as performed during CSFP is a potentially hazardous maneuver. When patients show inconstant symptoms of craniocervical pathology or signs of cervical myelopathy, an os odontoideum should be suspected.