β2-transferrin; pleural effusion; spinal-orthogeriatric unit; subarachnoid-pleural fistula

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman who underwent transthoracic discectomy for a giant disc herniation at T9–T10 level causing significant cord compromise. Following removal of her non-suction chest drain, she was transferred to the acute spinal-orthogeriatric unit where she was under regular review by elderly care physicians as part of their spinal liaison role.