Hematomyelia associated with coronavirus disease 2019: A rare case report

COVID-19 can affect the central nervous system, potentially leading to conditions like cerebral hemorrhage. This case report presents a unique instance of hematomyelia, or spinal cord hemorrhage, associated with COVID-19, which has not been previously reported. A 40-year-old male, positive for COVID-19, experienced symptoms including fever, urinary and fecal retention, and lower extremity pain. MRI scans revealed a spinal cord hematoma and edema, with COVID-19 nucleic acid detected in his cerebrospinal fluid. The patient received anti-infection and immunomodulatory treatments, leading to significant symptom improvement and absorption of the spinal cord hematoma. This suggests these therapies may be effective in treating COVID-19-related hematomyelia.

• 1
  This case report is the first to document hematomyelia, or spinal cord hemorrhage, associated with COVID-19 infection.
• 2
  Thoracic and lumbar MRI revealed subdural hematoma and spinal cord edema, confirmed through contrast-enhanced imaging and CSF analysis positive for COVID-19 nucleic acid.
• 3
  Anti-infective and immunomodulatory therapies led to the absorption of the spinal cord hematoma and significant improvement in the patient's symptoms.