Acute cauda equina syndrome after total knee arthroplasty as a result of epidural anesthesia and spinal stenosis.

An unusual complication of epidural anesthesia performed for routine total knee arthroplasty is presented. Epidural catheter placement or removal resulted in an acute cauda equina syndrome in a patient with asymptomatic high-grade lumbar spinal stenosis at L3-4. The case is presented along with a literature review.