胸椎椎管狭窄症术后急性硬脊膜外血肿

目的探讨胸椎椎管狭窄症术后急性硬脊膜外血肿的成因、诊断、治疗及预防措施。方法回顾性分析2003年6月～2011年12月因胸椎椎管狭窄症给予后路全椎板减压手术的患者101例,其中术后经再次手术证实术区急性硬脊膜外血肿9例,对其临床表现与再次手术情况进行分析。结果 9例患者全部获得随访,随访时间为3～45个月,平均34个月。血肿清除前神经功能评分为0.89±0.78,血肿清除后的神经功能评分为2.33±1.22,与术前相比差异有统计学意义（t=4.91,P〈0.01）。硬膜外血肿压迫时间为（7.72±7.06）min,血肿清除后神经功能恢复率与血肿压迫时间呈负相关（r=-0.789 6,P〈0.01）。结论胸椎椎管狭窄症手术后急性硬膜外血肿应尽快手术减压,血肿清除越早,术后神经功能恢复越好。     

Spinal epidural hematoma after a pathologic compression fracture: an unusual presentation of multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spinal epidural hematoma can result from traumatic and atraumatic etiologies. Atraumatic spinal epidural hematomas have been reported as an initial presentation of multiple myeloma. There are no other reports previously describing spinal epidural hematoma after a pathologic spinal fracture. PURPOSE: To present the first reported case of a spinal epidural hematoma after a pathologic fracture and a very unusual initial presentation of multiple myeloma in a young patient. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Case report. METHODS: A healthy asymptomatic 37-year-old male was struck in the head with a ball while playing soccer. Initial symptoms included severe back pain without neurologic symptoms. Complete motor paralysis developed over the next 24 hours in the lower extremities with a sensory level of T10. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the spine revealed a T6 compression fracture with a dorsal T3 to T10 epidural hematoma. The patient underwent surgical T2 to T8 posterior spinal decompression with evacuation of the hematoma. Serum and urine electrophoresis and bone marrow biopsy were performed. RESULTS: The results of the electrophoresis revealed an immunoglobulin A monoclonal spike. The bone marrow biopsy was positive for plasma cell myeloma. Recovery of some motor function was noted in both lower extremities postoperatively. The patient was subsequently started on steroids and chemotherapy for myeloma. The patient has also undergone bone marrow transplant, and his myeloma is currently in remission. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of spinal epidural hematoma after a pathologic spinal fracture. Also, this case represents an unusual initial presentation of multiple myeloma in a young patient.     

Spinal epidural hematoma after removal of an epidural catheter: case report and review of the literature

We report a case of spinal epidural hematoma after removal of an epidural catheter. The patient had no background of anticoagulant therapy or coagulopathy; sudden severe back pain occurred immediately after removal of the catheter. The chance of this occurring is estimated to be between 1:150,000 and 1:190,000. We studied 40 previous reports from 1952 to 2000, and we also investigated anticoagulant therapy and pathologic states, puncture difficulties and bleeding at the point of insertion, and its onset. In 23 cases (57.5%), anticoagulant therapy had been performed, and in 5 cases (12.5%), coagulopathy or liver dysfunction had been recognized. In 20 cases (50%), the initial symptoms were recognized within 24 hours after removal of the epidural catheter. Although spinal epidural hematoma is a very rare condition, it is a serious complication of continuous epidural anesthesia.     

Thoracic intradural arachnoid cyst associated with surgical removal of epidural hematoma--case report

A 54-year-old woman presented with a very rare association of spinal intradural arachnoid cyst and spinal epidural hematoma manifesting as paraparesis subsequent to severe back pain. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging disclosed a ventral epidural hematoma extending from the T-4 to T-6 levels and compressing the spinal cord ventrally. Emergent surgical evacuation of the epidural hematoma was carried out 22 hours after the onset. MR imaging obtained 2 days after surgery showed enlargement of the dorsal subarachnoid space at the T-3 to T-8 levels. The patient could walk independently within 6 months after discharge, but paraparesis recurred 3 years after surgery. MR imaging showed formation of an intradural arachnoid cyst, which compressed the spinal cord dorsally. She underwent arachnoid cystectomy, and recovered ambulation postoperatively. This case of intradural arachnoid cyst of the thoracic spine which appeared after surgical removal of an epidural hematoma at the same spinal level indicates some association between the epidural hematoma and the arachnoid cyst.     

Lumbar spinal epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation: A case report

Lumbar epidural hematoma is a very rare condition and can cause permanent neurological deficit needing urgent investigation and prompt intervention. We present here a case of lumbar epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation therapy for low back pain without any obvious predisposing factor. A fairly healthy and lively 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of grade 4 paresis after chiropractic manipulation therapy. She had no history of anticoagulation therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a spinal epidural hematoma with dural sac compression at the level of L3–L4. Rapid decompression of the spinal channel was performed. On follow-up 4 weeks after surgery, the patient was fully ambulatory and complained only of slight pain at the surgical site. MRI is the most useful method for diagnosing spinal epidural hematoma, the appropriate treatment for patients with neurological deficits being surgical decompression. Practitioners of chiropractic manipulation therapy should be aware of spinal epidural hematoma as a possible complication and should exercise caution in subgroups of patients on antithrombotic medication. Spinal epidural hematoma is a potentially reversible cause of neurological deterioration if diagnosed early and treated promptly.     

Thoracic epidural hematoma after spinal manipulation therapy

Posttraumatic spinal epidural hematoma is an unusual pathology. The authors report the case of a 64-year-old woman who experienced thoracic epidural hematoma during a session of spinal manipulation therapy (SMT). In the literature, such an event has been reported previously only twice. This case represents the first spinal epidural hematoma occurring after a chiropractic manipulation in the lumbar region. Surgical evacuation of the spinal hematoma resulted in complete recovery in the patient. Complications of SMT are reviewed, and the etiology and features of spinal epidural hematoma are discussed.     

Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural catheter removal in a paraplegic patient

Spinal epidural hematoma is a rare and devastating complication of epidural catheter removal in an anticoagulated patient. The diagnosis could be quite challenging, especially in patients with preexisting neurological deficits. A 35-year-old patient with remote spinal cord injury and T4 level paraplegia developed a spinal epidural hematoma on the 7th postoperative day. The hematoma developed after epidural catheter removal with concurrent administration of unfractionated heparin.     

Spinal surgery in a patient with essential thrombocythemia resulting in leg paraplegia: a case report

Background contextEssential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by a relatively benign clinical course that may be complicated by conflicting thrombosis and bleeding. Postoperative spinal epidural hematoma is an uncommon, but well-known, complication after spinal surgery.PurposeTo describe a patient with ET who underwent surgery for lumbar spinal canal stenosis resulting in leg paraplegia and discuss the perioperative management for ET.Study designCase report.ResultsThe patient with ET underwent laminoplasty and posterolateral fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis at L4–L5. A hematoma was observed in the epidural cavity after surgery, and emergency surgical evacuation was performed. After revision surgery, bleeding from the wound continued for 2 months, despite transfusions of platelets and coagulation factors, and right unilateral leg paralysis developed.ConclusionsThis case presentation increases the awareness of this disorder to the spinal community and the need to establish guidelines for the perioperative management of patients who require surgery in similar settings.     

Recurrent idiopathic epidural hematoma: a case report

Spinal epidural hematoma is a relatively rare condition in children. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented to a regional hospital with the complaints of severe thoracic back pain, neck stiffness, and gait disturbance of sudden onset. Clinical examination revealed no obvious cause for the symptoms. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of an epidural mass lesion extending from T1 to T3, compressing the spinal cord; the findings suggested a diagnosis of idiopathic spinal epidural hematoma. Twelve days after admission, the patient was transferred to our hospital for further observation. Blood tests, including a coagulation profile, were normal. At 22 days after the initial presentation, repeat MRI revealed resolution of the hematoma, with the mass showing an appreciable decrease in size. The patient became symptom-free and was walking normally at the time of discharge 28 days after her initial presentation. At 59 days after the initial presentation, she was readmitted with complaints of a sudden recurrence of back pain and weakness of both legs. Repeat MRI at this time revealed reappearance of the spinal epidural hematoma at the same level. Operative evacuation of the hematoma was performed 3 days after the diagnosis of the recurrence, with laminoplasty from T1 to T3. At a clinical review conducted 30 months after the operation, the patient remained symptom-free. Idiopathic resolution of a spinal epidural hematoma has previously been reported in 36 patients. However, we found no record in the literature of any case in which an epidural hematoma recurred following earlier MRI-confirmed idiopathic resolution.     

Epidural hematoma after epidural block: implications for its use in pain management

BACKGROUND: Spinal epidural hematoma after spinal puncture such as for injection of steroids for pain management may result in a rare complication of a spinal epidural hematoma causing acute myelopathy. Although this complication is well known with epidural anesthesia, where it is usually seen with impaired hemostasis, there are surprisingly few case reports of epidural hematoma after an epidural steroid block. CASE DESCRIPTION: A healthy 34-year-old man with no evidence of coagulopathy and not taking antiplatelet medication suddenly had onset of acute cervical myelopathy from a large cervical epidural hematoma 8 days after a cervical epidural steroid block. Following prompt surgical evacuation of the clot, the patient made a near complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Spinal epidural hematoma after spinal puncture is usually associated with impaired hemostasis. This case illustrates that it may occur in the absence of known risk factors. The delayed onset and the absence of risk factors have implications for the use of this procedure in chronic pain management.     

Spinal epidural hematoma in a scoliotic patient with long fusion: a case report.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: This is the only reported case on a spinal epidural hematoma occurring in a fused scoliotic segment. PURPOSE: To report the first case of a spinal epidural hematoma developed within the fused segment of a scoliotic curve and to raise clinicians' awareness of the pathology of a spinal epidural hematoma. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A case report. PATIENT SAMPLE: A 53-year-old woman with long spinal fusion for severe kyphoscoliosis diagnosed as a teenager. OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurological improvement and clinical follow-up for any occult spinal fracture. METHODS: A patient was surgically treated for a spinal epidural hematoma causing paraparesis. Clinical and radiological features were reported. RESULTS: The etiology of this case could not be defined, although the patient had a minor fall injury. Radiography and computed tomography scans could not detect any obvious fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging showed typical features of an epidural hematoma. After the hematoma evacuation, the patient's neurology gradually improved. CONCLUSIONS: Long fusion, differential stiffness along the fusion block, implant removal, and significant residual deformity may increase the risk of an epidural hematoma formation after trivial trauma without an obvious fracture on imaging. Clinicians should be mindful of this possibility and look out for any hematoma in the fused segment(s).     

Epidural hematoma after spinal anesthesia in a patient with undiagnosed epidural lymphoma

The incidence of hemorrhagic complications after neuroaxial anesthesia is very infrequent. We report a case of a woman developing epidural bleeding 3 wk after performing an uneventful spinal anesthesia at the lumbar level L3-4 for removal of a wire loop in her left knee. No hemostasis altering medication had been taken before and after spinal puncture. The hematoma presenting at the lumbar level L2-3 had to be removed via laminectomy. Pathological examination of the hematoma revealed a highly vascularized centroblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that was not diagnosed before surgery. The patient did not develop any neurological deficits. IMPLICATIONS: We report a case of a women developing epidural bleeding 3 wk after performing an uneventful spinal anesthesia for removal of a wire loop in her left knee. Pathological examination of the neurosurgically removed hematoma revealed a highly vascularized epidural centroblastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma.     

Puerperal ventral epidural hematoma after epidural labor analgesia

Serious complications in obstetric anesthesia are a rare occurrence. High neuraxial block, respiratory arrest in labor and delivery, and an unrecognized spinal catheter are among the most frequently reported serious complications. A serious complication occurs in approximately 1:3 000 obstetric patients. Neuraxial hematoma after obstetric epidural analgesia or anesthesia is extremely rare.We present a case of a puerperal spinal epidural hematoma following epidural labor analgesia. The patient presented with foot drop, which resolved after conservative treatment. We reviewed the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and treatment options for this rare complication.     

Epidural hematoma following epidural catheter placement in a patient with chronic renal failure

PURPOSE: We report a case of epidural hematoma in a surgical patient with chronic renal failure who received an epidural catheter for postoperative analgesia. Symptoms of epidural hematoma occurred about 60 hr after epidural catheter placement. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 58-yr-old woman with a history of chronic renal failure was admitted for elective abdominal cancer surgery. Preoperative laboratory values revealed anemia, hematocrit 26%, and normal platelet, PT and PTT values. General anesthesia was administered for surgery, along with epidural catheter placement for postoperative analgesia. Following uneventful surgery, the patient completed an uneventful postoperative course for 48 hr. Then, the onset of severe low back pain, accompanied by motor and sensory deficits in the lower extremities, alerted the anesthesia team to the development of an epidural hematoma extending from T12 to L2 with spinal cord compression. Emergency decompressive laminectomy resulted in recovery of moderate neurologic function. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of epidural hematoma formation in a surgical patient with chronic renal failure (CRF) and epidural postoperative analgesia. The only risk factor for the development of epidural hematoma was a history of CRF High-risk patients should be monitored closely for early signs of cord compression such as severe back pain, motor or sensory deficits. An opioid or opioid/local anesthetic epidural solution, rather than local anesthetic infusion alone, may allow continuous monitoring of neurological function and be a prudent choice in high-risk patients. If spinal hematoma is suspected, immediate MRI or CT scan should be done and decompressive laminectomy performed without delay.     

Postoperative spinal epidural hematoma at a site distant from the main surgical procedure: a case report and review of the literature

Background ContextPostoperative spinal epidural hematomas are known complications of spinal surgery. However, to our knowledge, there are no known cases of postoperative spinal epidural hematoma that occurred distant from the portion of the procedure that breached the spinal canal.PurposeTo report a case and review the literature on the development of postoperative spinal epidural hematoma at a site distant from the portion of the surgical procedure that breached the spinal canal.Study DesignCase report and review of the literature.MethodsOne patient at our institution developed a hematoma at a site distant from the surgical procedure that breached the spinal canal. We retrospectively reviewed the patient's clinical charts, radiographs, and computed tomography scans.ResultsA 57-year-old woman with adult scoliosis and junctional kyphosis underwent a pedicle subtraction osteotomy and long spinal fusion from T3 to the sacrum. Three hours postoperatively, she developed paraplegia with a neurologic deficit at a level distant from the site at which the spinal canal was surgically breached. A computed tomography myelogram revealed a spinal epidural hematoma that was causing compression of the spinal cord in the upper thoracic spine. The patient was returned to the operating room emergently and underwent laminectomy and hematoma evacuation. She had near-complete recovery 5 months after surgery.ConclusionSpinal epidural hematomas are rare but dangerous complications that can result in severe neurologic deficits. A neurologic examination should always be conducted in the operating room immediately after surgery; if it is abnormal, spinal epidural hematoma should be suspected. If the examination indicates a deficit at a site distant from the original surgery, then diagnostic reimaging (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography myelogram) is indicated.     

Spontaneous epidural hematoma due to cervico-thoracic angiolipoma

Epidural angiolipomas are uncommon benign tumors of the spine. Their clinical presentation is usually a progressive spinal cord compression. We report the case of a 22-year-old patient who presented with an acute paraparesis and a spontaneous epidural hematoma, which revealed a epidural angiolipoma which extended from C7 to T3. The patient underwent a C7–T3 laminectomy, in emergency, with evacuation of the hematoma and extradural complete resection of a fibrous epidural tumor bleeding. The postoperative course was favorable with regression of neurological symptoms. Epidural angiolipomas can be revealed by spontaneous intratumoral hemorrhage without traumatism. The standard treatment is total removal by surgery.     

Total spinal anaesthesia as a complication of local anaesthetic test-dose administration through an epidural catheter

We describe a case of total spinal anaesthesia, which occurred after a 3-ml lignocaine (20 mg ml(-1)) test dose was administered through an epidural catheter in a 79-year-old patient scheduled for gastrectomy under combined general and epidural anaesthesia. The surgery was postponed, and the patient required admission to the intensive therapy unit. Spinal MRI from the total spinal cord did not reveal any pathology. During the next 24 h the patient recovered and after 11 days was successfully operated on under general anaesthesia. No late complications followed. We presume that during placement, the epidural catheter had migrated to the spinal canal as a result of technical difficulties. Although controversial, we consider that administering a standard test dose of local anaesthetic via an epidural catheter is recommended, especially in high-risk patients and when epidural space identification or catheter placement poses technical difficulties. A test dose of local anaesthetic does not fully prevent complications.     

胸椎手术后急性硬脊膜外血肿

 目的 探讨胸椎手术后急性硬脊膜外血肿的形成原因、血肿压迫时间对脊髓神经功能的影响及预防措施。方法 回顾性分析2002年5月至2012年5月经手术证实的胸椎后路手术后发生急性硬脊膜外血肿致神经功能障碍的14例患者资料,男6例,女8例;年龄41～69岁,平均61.2岁;胸椎管狭窄症10例,胸椎管内脊膜瘤3例,胸椎转移瘤1例;胸椎后路手术后3～14 h,平均6.6 h,患者脊髓神经功能出现恶化,ASIA分级A级5例,B级9例。对比血肿清除前、后以及随访时患者神经功能评分及神经功能恢复率。分析神经功能恢复率与血肿压迫时间及血肿清除前神经功能的关系。结果 14例患者血肿清除后AISA分级为：B级1例,C级2例,D级4例,E级7例。其中B、C级3例患者血肿压迫时间均 ＞10 h。血肿清除前、后神经功能比较差异有统计学意义,血肿清除后神经功能恢复率为63.7%±23.3%,与血肿压迫时间呈负相关,与血肿清除前神经功能呈正相关。血肿清除前神经功能与随访神经功能比较差异有统计学意义,随访神经功能恢复率为86.97%±17.58%,与血肿压迫时间呈负相关,与血肿清除术前神经功能呈正相关。结论 胸椎术后急性硬脊膜外血肿可致脊髓神经功能严重损害。脊髓神经功能恢复与血肿压迫时间有直接关系。早期诊断并清除血肿压迫是挽救脊髓功能的关键。     

Spinal epidural hematoma following removal of incorrectly placed jugular central venous catheter

The authors report a rare case of iatrogenic spinal epidural hematoma associated with central venous catheter cannulation via the right internal jugular vein. This 59-year-old man was operated on for stomach cancer while under general anesthesia. A central venous line was inserted via the right internal jugular vein. The operation was completed uneventfully and postoperative fluid replacement was continued without interruption. On postoperative Day 2, marked swelling around the right side of his neck gradually worsened. Cervical CT demonstrated that the catheter tip of the central venous line had penetrated the jugular vein and entered the intervertebral foramen (C5-6), thereby reaching the spinal epidural space. The patient was immediately transported to the operating room and the catheter was carefully extracted under fluoroscopy. Several minutes after catheter removal, the patient complained of sudden severe back pain and over time developed mild paraparesis of both lower extremities. Urgent MR imaging of the spine revealed a large spinal epidural hematoma extending from C-1 to T-8 that was compressing the dorsal spinal cord. The patient underwent emergency surgical removal of the epidural hematoma as well as spinal cord decompression with a T1-4 laminectomy. After surgery, the patient showed full recovery of his lower-extremity motor function.     

Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural anesthesia versus spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma. Two case reports

Two cases of lumbar hemorrhage with subsequent persistent neurologic sequelae are presented and their possible causes are discussed in the context of a literature review: one patient with spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma with no trauma or lumbar puncture and one with spinal epidural hematoma associated with preceding epidural catheterization for postoperative pain relief. The subdural hematoma was associated with a thrombocytopenia of about 90,000/microliters due to intraoperative blood loss. This might have been contributory to the formation or expansion of the hematoma, but it is not convincing since a platelet count of this amount should not lead to spontaneous bleeding. Both patients received low-dose heparin, but since coagulation tests were normal, prolonged bleeding does not appear to be a likely cause, although it cannot be excluded. In conclusion, the reasons for both hematoma remain unclear. With regard to the epidural hematoma and low-dose heparinization, the possible coincidence of spontaneous lumbar hematoma and lumbar regional block should be taken into consideration.