Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SCEH) is a considerbaly rare clinical condition. It may lead to persistent neurological deficits or even death unless recognized and treated early in its course. It usually occurs after trauma but may also develop spontaneously. Majority of cases can be diagnosed with a detailed neurological examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Urgent surgical tehrapy is the preferred mode of treatment in advanced cases while a conservative approach is selected for cases with mild neurological deficit. MRI is regarded as the imaging modality of choice fort he diagnosis of SCEH. We report a case of nontrumatic SCEH after oral anticoagulant (OAC) use that presented with sudden-onset paraplegia. We also reviewed the relevant literature. Keywords: Spinal epidural hematoma, nontraumatic, oral anticoagulant, MRI, human prothrombin complex concentrate
INTRODUCTİONSpontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SCEH) is a rare condition and it is the rarest cause of neck pain. However, it is a medical emergency since it may lead to permenant neuroogical deficit or even death if missed or left untreated. The clinical picture usually starts with pain corresponding to the level of bleeding and progresses into neurological deficits. Depending on the site of occurrence, it may cause paraparesia, quadriparesia, and sphincteric malfunction.
1Usually observed in cervical and thoracic regions, SCEHs are the rarest among the pathologies causing spinal cord compression.2-5 Epidural hematomas are generally located to the posterior aspect of the spinal cord owing to close relationship of the dura with the posterior longitudinal ligament at the anterior aspect of the dural sac. 2,3,5,6 Epidural hematomas located in the cervical region manifest with acute or chronic symptoms, although neck pain or root pain are the most common complaints. Motor and/or sensory deficits accompany the clinical picture depending on the magnitude of spinal cord compression.2,7,8 SCEH follows a trauma most of the time, although spontaneous SCEHs have also rarely been described. SCEH may complicate hypertension, vascular malformations, bleeding disorders, anticoagulant therapy, tumors, pregnancy, vasculitic syndromes, surgical interventions, and epidural anesthesia. [3][4][5][6]9,10 In this case, we aimed to presented a SCEH case. There was no ethical problem in this case.
Case reportA 26-year-old man presented with sudeen-onset neck pain and wekaness in arms and legs. He had been on oral antioagulant therapy (warfarin sodium 5 mg for 30 days). His genreal status was moderately impaired and he was consicous, cooperated and oriented. On physical examination the cardiac sounds were normal, abdomen was nontender, pupils were isocoric, and cranial nerves were roughly intact. Motor examination revealed a muscle strength of 1/5 in left wrist flexion and extension and 1/5 in right wrist flexion and extension. Sensory examination showed anesthesia on T1 dermatome and its continuity. TCR was bilaterally negative. His vital sgins were a...