Cramps and tingling: A diagnostic conundrum.

Tetany a syndrome of sharp flexion of the wrist and ankle joints (carpopedal spasm), muscle twitching, cramps and convulsions, sometimes with an attack of stridor, is due to hyperexcitability of nerves and muscles caused by decreased extracellular ionized calcium. Hyperventilation secondary to anxiety can result in tetany. We report a case of hyperventilation induced tetany 2 h following spinal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair.