Spinal Subdural and Epidural Haematomas: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects in Acute and Subacute Cases

Summary  Background. The diagnosis of spontaneous spinal haematomas mainly depends on magnetic resonance imaging. This study evaluates the MRI characteristics of spinal epidural and subdural haematomas. The results were correlated with medical history, coagulation abnormalities and therapeutic outcome to provide guidelines for early diagnosis and treatment of spinal epidural and subdural hematomas.  Summary of Background Data. Imaging signs of epidural and subdural haematomas have been reported before, however without special attention to the differential-diagnostic and therapeutic implications of haematoma localisation.  Method. Seven patients (3 women, 4 men, age range 55–86 years) with acute progressive neurological deficits and without a history of severe trauma were studied. In all cases neurological examinations were performed after admission followed by MRI studies with T2 and T1 weighted images, before and after administration of contrast agent. Spinal angiography was performed twice to exclude a vascular malformation. All patients underwent open surgery.  Findings. Acute and subacute hematomas were detected once in the cervical spine, in five cases in the thoracic region and once in the lumbar region. The hematomas had an epidural location in three cases and a subdural in four. In the thoracic region subdural haemorrhage was much more common than epidural hematomas. Subdural blood collections were mainly found ventral to the spinal cord. Epidural haemorrhage was always located dorsal to the spinal cord. The evaluation of the haematoma localisation may be difficult occasionally, but delineation of the dura is frequently possible in good quality MRI. The clue to the diagnosis of ventrally located subdural haemorrhage is the absence of the “curtain sign”, which is typical for epidural tumours.  Interpretation. Spontaneous spinal hematomas are frequently located in the thoracic spine. Subdural spinal haemorrhage is more frequent than epidural. Epidural haemorrhage is frequently located dorsal to the spinal cord because of the tight fixation of the dura to the vertebral bodies.     

Intracranial hemorrhage following lumbar spine surgery

Background

Intracranial hemorrhage is a serious but rare complication of spinal surgery, which can occur in the intracerebral, cerebellar, epidural, or subdural compartment.

Purpose

To describe patients with intracranial hemorrhage after lumbar spinal surgery and present clinical and diagnostic imaging findings.

Methods

In this retrospective study, medical records of 1,077 patients who underwent lumbar spinal surgery in our tertiary referral neurosurgery center between January 2003 and September 2010 were studied. The original presentations of the patients before the surgical intervention were herniated lumbar disc, spinal canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, lumbar spinal trauma, and lumbar spine and epidural tumor. The operations performed consisted of discectomy, multiple level laminectomy, stabilization and fusion, lumbar instrumentation, and lumbar spinal and epidural tumor resection.

Results

Four cases developed intracranial hemorrhage including acute subdural hematoma (one case), epidural hematoma (one case), and remote cerebellar hemorrhage (two cases). The clinical and diagnostic imaging characteristics along with treatments performed and outcomes of these four patients are described and the pertinent literature regarding post-lumbar spinal surgery intracranial hemorrhages is reviewed.

Conclusion

Though rare, intracranial hemorrhage can occur following lumbar spinal surgery. This complication may be asymptomatic or manifest with intense headache at early stages any time during the first week after surgery. Dural tear, bloody CSF leakage, focal neurologic symptoms, and headache are indicators of potential intracranial hemorrhage, which should be considered during or following surgery and necessitate diagnostic imaging.     

The importance of MRI findings for the diagnosis of nontraumatic lumbar subacute subdural haematomas

Summary Spinal subdural haematoma (SSH) is a rare cause of spinal cord or cauda equina compression which occurs mainly in patients with a bleeding diathesis. This report presents a case of subacute lumbar subdural haematoma demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. MRI appears to be more sensitive than myelography and CT.     

Subdural and epidural hematomas following epidural anesthesia. A literature review]

Of 434 cases of epidural, subdural, and intracranial haematomas published in the last 2-3 decades, 61 had developed following spinal, epidural or caudal anaesthetic procedures; 29 haematomas were around the spinal cord and 32, within the cranium. The most frequent secondary cause of this complication was pre-, intra-, or postoperative administration of drugs influencing blood coagulation. Simultaneous traumatic and haemorrhagic punctures may favour the development of a haematoma. The most common primary symptom of lumbothoracic haematomas was back pain with and without radicular symptoms, while intracranial haematomas were predominantly accompanied by persistent headache. Continuous postoperative follow-up of such patients is essential. Postoperative results of laminectomies for lumbothoracic haematomas has been found to on the time interval between the first symptoms and the start of surgery. If surgery is performed within 8 h after the onset of paraplegia the prognosis is relatively good. Compared with the frequency of spinal, epidural, and caudal anaesthetic procedures throughout the world, haematomas of the lumbothoracic or cranial region are extremely rare complications.     

Coagulopathy Induced Spinal Intradural Extramedullary Haematoma: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

Summary  In a retrospective review of 3 patients operated for coagulopathy induced spinal intradural-extramedullary haematoma the literature regarding coagulopathy induced spinal haemorrhage is reviewed and the etiology of these rare spinal subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhages is discussed.  Spinal intradural haematomas are usually related to trauma or a previous lumbar puncture. A review of the literature revealed only a handful cases of spinal intradural haemorrhages occurring secondary to an underlying haematological disorder or an iatrogenic coagulopathy.  Coagulopathy induced spinal haemorrhage should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute paraparesis in patients with co-existent haematological disorders or undergoing anticoagulation therapy. Due to the often mixed subdural and subarachnoid bleeding patterns we have termed this entity spinal intradural-extramedullary haematoma.     

Subdural Empyema

Opinion statement Subdural empyema represents loculated infection between the outermost layer of the meninges, the dura, and the arachnoid. The empyema may develop intracranially or in the spinal canal. Intracranial subdural empyema is most frequently a complication of sinusitis or, less frequently, otitis or neurosurgical procedures. Spinal subdural empyema is rare and may result from hematogenous infection or spread of infection from osteomyelitis. The most common organisms in intracranial subdural empyema are anaerobic and microaerophilic streptococci, in particular those of the Streptococcus milleri group (S. milleri and Streptococcus anginosus). Staphylococcus aureus is present in a minority of cases, and multiple additional organisms, including Gramnegative organisms, such as Escherichia coli, and anaerobic organisms, such as Bacteroides, may be present. Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus epidermidis may be present in cases related to neurosurgical procedures, and Salmonella species have been detected in patients with advanced AIDS; multiple organisms may be present simultaneously. Spinal subdural empyemas are almost invariably caused by streptococci or by S. aureus. Subdural empyema—whether it occurs in the skull or the spinal canal—may cause rapid compression of the brain or spinal cord, and represents an extreme medical and neurosurgical emergency. The diagnostic procedure of choice for intracranial and spinal subdural empyema is MRI with gadolinium enhancement. Computed tomography scan may miss intracranial subdural empyemas detectable by MRI. Conversely, occasion spinal subdural empyemas may be detected by CT myelography where MRI is negative. Treatment in virtually all cases of intracranial or spinal subdural empyema requires prompt surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy. Pus from the empyema should always be sent for anaerobic, as well as aerobic, culture. Because intracranial subdural empyemas may contain multiple organisms, provisional antibiotic therapy of intracranial subdural empyema, where the organism is unknown, should be directed against S. aureus, microaerophilic and anaerobic streptococci, and Gram-negative organisms. Antibiotics should include 1) nafcillin, oxacillin, or vancomycin; plus 2) a third generation cephalosporin; plus 3) metronidazole. Provisional antibiotic therapy of spinal subdural empyemas should be directed against S. aureus and streptococci, and should include nafcillin, oxacillin, or vancomycin. Morbidity and mortality in intracranial and spinal subdural empyema relate directly to the delay in institution of therapy. Both conditions should, thus, be treated with great urgency.     

Hip spine syndrome: management of coexisting radiculopathy and arthritis of the lower extremity.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Significant lumbar spinal stenosis and lower extremity arthritis may coexist in the elderly. This combination of lumbar stenosis with radiculopathy and lower extremity arthritis may lead to diagnostic uncertainty. PURPOSE: To describe the findings of hip spine syndrome, a constellation of symptoms with extensive overlap of radiculopathy and lower extremity arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of the patient with lower extremity pain in consideration for total joint arthroplasty should include functional inquiry of the spinal nerves. Diagnostic tests and injections may allow an informative weighting of the patient's symptoms, leading to a better understanding of the patient's pain syndrome. There is a group of patients who have a total hip arthroplasty and then develop or may continue to have pain of groin and buttock, secondary to sciatica of lumbar spinal stenosis. For the patient undergoing total hip arthroplasty with asymptomatic spinal stenosis, there may be increased neurological risk at surgery, related to the stenosis. The patient with both conditions may require surgical decompression of the lumbar stenosis as well as joint arthroplasty of the arthritic joint.     

Spinal subdural hematoma following intracranial aneurysm surgery: four case reports

Four patients presented with rare spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) occurring after intracranial aneurysm surgery and manifesting as postoperative back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging performed from 4 to 11 days after the operation showed acute or subacute thoracolumbar SDH. No patient had risk factors for bleeding at this site (e.g., lumbar puncture, coagulation abnormality). Overdrainage of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed for brain retraction during the operation in all four cases. Computed tomography performed during the postoperative period showed a suspicious tentorial subdural hemorrhage in Case 1 and an interhemispheric subdural hemorrhage in Case 3. All four patients received conservative management and their lumbago improved. We hypothesize that CSF hypotension due to overdrainage of CSF and downward migration of intracranial SDH under the influence of gravity were involved in the formation of spinal SDH.     

Iatrogenic spinal subdural haematoma

Spinal subdural haematoma is a rare condition, usually seen in association with lumbar puncture or a bleeding disorder. It carries a high morbidity and mortality, and successful treatment requires prompt surgical intervention. We present a case of mixed spinal subarachnoid and subdural haemorrhage complicating failed spinal anaesthesia combined with anti-coagulation in an elderly woman, together with a review of the literature.     

Use of topically applied rt-PA in the evacuation of extensive acute spinal subdural haematoma

Spontaneous spinal subdural haematoma is a rare cause of spinal cord compression, usually confined to a few vertebral levels. When the haematoma extends over several spinal segments, surgical decompression is a major undertaking. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has previously been used in a number of surgical procedures, but not in the setting of acute spinal subdural haematoma. A minimally invasive technique of decompression, using topical rt-PA, is presented in two patients with extensive spinal intradural haematoma. Two patients receiving long-term anticoagulation therapy presented with acute-onset back pain progressing to paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine demonstrated spinal subdural haematomas extending over 15 vertebral levels in one patient and 12 in the other. An angiography catheter was introduced into the subdural space through a limited laminectomy. Thrombolysis and evacuation of haematoma was then achieved by intermittent irrigation of the subdural space with rt-PA, followed by saline lavage. Postoperative imaging demonstrated satisfactory decompression in both patients. There was significant improvement of neurological function in one patient. Topical application of rt-PA for spinal subdural haematoma allows evacuation of the haematoma through a limited surgical exposure. Decompression of the subdural space by this minimally invasive technique may be advantageous over extensive surgery by minimising surgical exposure, reducing postoperative pain and risk of neuronal injury. This technique may be useful in patients presenting with compression extending over several vertebral levels or poor surgical candidates.     

Subdural hemorrhage of the cauda equina. A rare complication of cerebrospinal fluid shunt. Case report

We describe the case of a 16-year-old boy with idiopathic hydrocephalus, who developed cranial subdural hygromas and subsequent cranial subdural hemorrhage after a shunting procedure. Sciatica and radicular lumbar pain initially seemed to be unrelated to the preceeding implantation of a ventriculoatrial shunt. CT scan revealed a sharply demarcated hyperdensity in the lumbar subdural space with compression of the cauda equina. Differential diagnosis considerations included vascular malformations, vascular tumors, benign tumors of meninges or nerve sheets, ependymoma, lymphoma, and metastases. MR investigation did, in fact, clearly recognize this hyperintense space-occupying lesion as blood in the subdural space which outlined the cauda equina. We believe that the spinal subdural hematoma in our case represented an extension of intracranial subdural haemorrhage fluid into the spinal subdural space.     

Decompressive surgery for acute subdural haematoma leading to contralateral extradural haematoma: a report of two cases and review of literature

Development of a contralateral epidural haematoma during or immediately after cranial surgery is a well-described entity. However, in a case of acute subdural haematoma where the brain is usually tense, postoperative development of contralateral extradural haematoma is uncommon. We report two cases of contralateral extradural haematoma after decompressive surgery for acute subdural haematoma. We recommend routine postoperative CT immediately after cranial surgery for head trauma. This would help in timely detection and treatment of such a complication.     

Influence of cranial morphology on the location of chronic subdural haematoma

Background  

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between cranial morphology and location of a chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) in patients with and without intracranial vault asymmetry.     

Spinal subdural haematoma as a complication of immediate epidural blood patch

Purpose

The authors report a case of a patient who developed spinal subdural haematoma after a series of epidural blood patches to alert anaesthetists to this rare complication.

Clinical Features

The patient was a 35-yr-old woman without coagulopathy and was initially treated elsewhere for chronic pain by repetitive epidural phenol injections. When the dura was inadvertently punctured during subsequent attempts to inject phenol, immediate epidural blood patch was performed to treat or prevent headache. The patient developed cauda equina syndrome after six epidural blood patches. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and the intradural haematoma was evacuated surgically. The patient made a complete recovery.

Conclusions

Epidural blood patch is not without complications. Transient backache and/or radiculopathy may occur in up to one-third of patients receiving a blood patch. If signs and symptoms continue or worsen, a spinal subarachnoid and/or subdural haematoma should be suspected and neurosurgical opinion sought. The technique used to identify the epidural space is important in preventing subdural injection of blood. The needle should be withdrawn after durai puncture and the epidural space identified at a different level. Blood patches may carry a higher risk of serious complications after multiple epidural phenol injections because of fibrosis and obliteration of the epidural space. Magnetic resonance scans reliably demonstrate the extent of the pathology. If diagnosed and treated before irreversible changes occur, spinal intradural haematoma can result in complete recovery.     

Cranial subdural haematoma after spinal anaesthesia

Intracranial subdural haematoma is an exceptionally rare complicationof spinal anaesthesia. A 20-yr-old male underwent appendicectomyunder partial spinal and subsequent general anaesthesia. A weeklater, he presented with severe headache and vomiting not respondingto bed rest and analgesia. Magnetic resonance imaging showeda small acute subdural haematoma in the right temporo-occipitalregion. The patient improved without surgical decompression.The pathogenesis of headache and subdural haematoma formationafter dural puncture is discussed and the literature brieflyreviewed. Severe and prolonged post-dural puncture headacheshould be regarded as a warning sign of an intracranial complication. Br J Anaesth 2001; 86: 893–5     

Primary intracranial hypotension associated with chronic subdural hematoma--report of 2 cases

Low spinal fluid pressure syndrome is characterized by orthostatic headache aggravated in upright position. It is classified into two from etiological standpoint i.e. primary and secondary (most often seen after lumbar puncture). On the other hand, low spinal fluid pressure is one of the promoting factors of chronic subdural hematoma. We report 2 cases of primary low spinal fluid pressure syndrome (primary intracranial hypotension) associated with chronic subdural hematoma. Case 1 is a 47-year-old man who was admitted with disorientation following 2 week history of orthostatic headache. Spinal fluid pressure was 7mmH2O in the lateral recumbent position. CT scan revealed bilateral isodense chronic subdural hematoma. The subdural hematoma reaccumulated 17 days after the first operation. Case 2 is a 31-year-old woman who was admitted with 4 week history of progressive orthostatic headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Spinal fluid pressure was 0 mmH2O. CT scan and cerebral angiography showed bilateral chronic subdural hematoma. The hematoma reaccumulated 20 days after the first operation. Six cases including our two cases of primary intracranial hypotention associated with chronic subdural hematoma have been reported. When changes of characters of headache, especially mental symptoms and disturbances of consciousness occurred in patients with chronic orthostatic headache, association of chronic subdural hematoma should be suspected. In cases with chronic subdural hematoma associated with low spinal fluid pressure syndrome, the reaccumulation of hematoma tends to occur after burr hole opening and irrigation of hematoma.     

Management of cervical and lumbar stenosis]

Spinal stenosis is most common in elderly patients and is defined as narrowing of the spinal canal and (or) lateral nerve root canals. The underlying processes leading to spinal stenosis are degenerative changes in facet joints and intervertebral discs and buckling of the ligamentum flavum. Spinal stenosis can occur in both the cervical and the lumbar spine. Cervical stenosis mayleat to the development of radiculopathy and (or) myelopathy. The majority of patients respond to nonoperative management. Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis presents with back and (or) leg paints of valuing severity and duration. Nonoperative treatment associated with lumbar spinal stenosis consists of restituting and avoiding those maneuvers that reproduce pain. Surgical treatment of cervical and lumbar stenosis includes decompressive lamine ctomy, often fusion and instrumentation.     

Hemorrhagic lumbar facet cysts accompanying a spinal subdural hematoma at the same level

Abstract

Context

We present a rare and interesting case of hemorrhagic lumbar facet cysts accompanying a spinal subdural hematoma at the same level suggesting a possible mechanism by which spinal subdural hematomas can arise.

Findings

A 71-year-old man presented with persistent sciatic pain and intermittent claudication. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a multilocular mass lesion that showed high signal intensity in both T1- and T2-weighted images, and was located both inside and outside of the spinal canal. Computed tomographic myelography showed a cap-shaped block of the dural tube at L5 and computed tomography with L5–S facet arthrography demonstrated cystic masses. The patient was diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy caused by hemorrhagic facet cysts, and then progressed to surgical treatment. Surgery revealed that the cysts contained blood clots, and intraoperative findings that the inside of the dural tube appeared blackish and that the dural tube was tensely ballooned after removal of the cysts led us to explorative durotomy. The durotomy demonstrated concentrated old blood pooling both in the dorsal and ventral subdural space, and these spaces were subsequently drained. After surgery, his sciatic pain and intermittent claudication resolved. There was no evidence of cyst mass recurrence at 2 years of follow-up.

Conclusion

We propose a newly described mechanism for the formation of spinal subdural hematomas. We recommend surgeons be alert to epidural lesions causing repeated acute compression of the dural tube, which can cause spinal subdural hematoma, and consider the possible coexistence of these lesions in diagnosis and strategic surgical decisions.     

Biportal endoscopic versus microscopic lumbar decompressive laminectomy in patients with spinal stenosis: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXTBiportal endoscopic decompressive laminectomy is a widely performed procedure and shows acceptable clinical outcomes. However, the evidence regarding the advantages of biportal endoscopic surgery is weak, a randomized controlled trial is therefore warranted.PURPOSETo compare the clinical efficacies of biportal endoscopic and microscopic decompressive laminectomy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.STUDY DESIGNRandomized controlled trial.PATIENT SAMPLESixty-four participants suffering from low back and leg pain with single-level lumbar spinal stenosis who required decompressive laminectomy.OUTCOME MEASURESOutcomes were assessed with the use of patient-reported outcome measures, visual analog scale (VAS) score for low back and lower extremity radiating pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) score, and painDETECT for neuropathic pain. Surgery-related outcomes including operation time, length of hospital stay, postoperative drainage, and serum creatine phosphokinase were evaluated. Perioperative (<30 days) and late (1–12 months) complications were also noted.METHODSAll participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo biportal endoscopic or microscopic decompressive laminectomy. The primary outcome was the ODI score at 12 months after surgery based on a modified intention-to-treat strategy. The secondary outcomes included VAS score for low back and lower extremity radiating pain, ODI scores, EQ-5D score, and painDETECT score. There were no sources of funding and no conflicts of interest associated with this study.RESULTSThere was no significant difference between groups in the mean ODI score at 12 months after surgery (30 in the microscopy vs. 29 in the biportal endoscopy group, p=.635). There were also no significant differences in low back and lower extremity pain VAS scores, ODI, EQ-5D scores, and painDETECT scores at the 3-, 6-, or 12-month follow-up. Operation time, length of hospital stay, serum creatine phosphokinase, and perioperative complications, such as durotomies and symptomatic hematoma, showed no significant differences between the groups; however, one participant underwent additional revision surgery 9 months after the index surgery in the microscopy group.CONCLUSIONSDespite the study design limitation of relatively short duration of follow-up, this trial suggests that biportal endoscopic decompressive laminectomy is an alternative to and offers similar clinical outcomes as microscopic open surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis.