A Case Of Overshunting-Associated Myelopathy That Developed 27 Years After Placement Of A Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Overshunting-associated myelopathy (OSAM) is a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old man who presented with OSAM without positional headache 27 years after the placement of a VP shunt. The patient recovered after shunt ligation and transection. Although rare, chronic cerebrospinal fluid overdrainage can lead to cervical myelopathy due to spinal cord compression by the dilated vertebral veins/epidural venous plexus. Thus, reversible OSAM needs to be differentiated during the diagnosis of cervical myelopathy.