[Accidental epidural injection of hypertonic sodium chloride solution].

Twenty ml of 20% hypertonic saline were accidentally injected into the epidural space of a 53-year-old man with lumbar backache and sciatica. This resulted in severe thoracolumbar pain, which disappeared after he received by the same route 20 ml of 1% lidocaine and 40 ml distilled water. Three months later, the sciatica had almost all disappeared; there remained no motor deficit. A literature survey helped to explain the signs described. Further cases of accidental epidural injections of other drugs are discussed.