[The influence of abnormal vertebral column on failure in epidural anaesthesia (author's transl)].

In 387 pat., we observed the interdependence of abnormal vertebral column and failures in epidural anaesthesia by medial tap with the "los of resistance" method. We could show that in contradistinction to other opinions scoliosis induces no higher rate of failure of epidural anaesthesia than the normal vertebral column. In patients with kyphoscoliosis and ossified ligaments the epidural space was identified less frequently than in the normal group, perforations of the dura were encountered more frequently. These results are statistically significant. In patients who had or have pain in the back (p.e. lumbago) and those with ossified ligaments we found significantly more pain during operation although analgesia was tested before. In these three abnormalities of the vertebral column we recommend to judicously balance advantages against disadvantages of epidural anaesthesia and alternative anaesthetic procedures.