Anesth Pain Med, 2017 · DOI: 10.5812/aapm.14041 · Published: November 12, 2017
Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare condition where a collection of blood forms in the space around the spinal cord, potentially leading to paralysis. This case report describes a woman who experienced sudden neck pain, limb weakness, breathing difficulty, and high paraplegia due to an SSEH located on the ventral (front) side of her spinal cord. The patient underwent emergency surgery to remove the hematoma, which involved releasing cerebrospinal fluid and carefully evacuating the ventral side hematoma, leading to improved symptoms and eventual discharge.
Prompt recognition and diagnosis of SSEH through MRI are essential to prevent irreversible neurological damage.
Early decompressive laminectomy and hematoma evacuation can significantly improve neurological outcomes in patients with severe SSEH.
For ventral SSEH, a surgical approach involving dorsal dural incision, cerebrospinal fluid release, and intermittent ventral dural clipping may be necessary for successful hematoma evacuation.