Acute spontaneous cervical spinal epidural hematoma with hemiparesis as the initial presentation.

Acute onset of hemiparesis is a common initial presentation of cerebral vascular accidents, but many differential diagnoses should be considered. Hemiparesis results from an upper motor neuron lesion above the midcervical spinal cord, and the absence of cranial nerve signs or facial palsy suggests a lesion in the high cervical spinal cord. Most spinal cord lesions, however, result in quadriparesis or paraparesis, but not hemiparesis. We present a rare case of acute spontaneous cervical spinal epidural hematoma, with initial presentation of right hemiparesis and mild neck pain.     

自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿MRI诊断

目的:探讨自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿MRI表现及其鉴别诊断。材料与方法:9例自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿,男4例,女5例,年龄9~57岁,平均36岁。所有病例均无明确外伤史。常规行SE T1WI矢状位及轴位,T2WI矢状位及轴位。7例注射Gd-DTPA行增强扫描。结果:9例自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿中,位于椎管内背侧8例,仅1例位于椎管内腹侧,累及3~5个椎体节段,平均4个椎体节段。颈段4例,颈胸段4例,腰段1例。血肿呈新月形及长条状。3例血肿呈T1WI及T2WI高信号,4例血肿T1WI呈等信号,T2WI呈高信号。2例T1WI及T2WI均呈等高混杂信号。血肿与脊髓间T1WI及T2WI均可见低信号线相隔,以T2WI明显。增强扫描3例见血肿壁强化,4例未见强化。结论:MRI是自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿最佳检查方法,可清楚显示血肿部位、范围、血肿的新旧程度及脊髓受压受损情况。     

A rare diagnosis in emergency department: spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma

We report a case of a 32-year-old man who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a sudden onset of paraplegia due to spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. Although the patient had a poor neurological condition on presentation, he was successfully operated and discharged without any neurological sequel. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rarely seen clinical entity, especially in the ED. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best choice for early diagnosis, and urgent surgical decompression is essential to prevent serious neurological deficits.     

Complete nonsurgical resolution of a spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas (SSEH) are heralded by spinal pain and progressive cord compression syndromes which may lead to permanent neurological disability or death if emergent neurosurgical intervention is delayed. It therefore must be considered early in the differential diagnosis of acute spinal cord compression syndrome. A case of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma presenting as an acute myelopathy in a clarinet player who chronically used a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication is presented. The case was remarkable for the rare complete spontaneous resolution of neurological function. Approximately 250 cases of SSEH have been reported in the medical literature, although only a handful of these patients have recovered spontaneously. This is the sixth report of such an event. The etiologies, contributing factors, disease progression, and treatment recommendations are discussed.     

Delayed traumatic spinal epidural hematoma with spontaneous resolution of symptoms

Post-traumatic spinal epidural hematomas are uncommon, usually requiring emergent neurosurgical evacuation. We present a symptomatic delayed post-traumatic epidural hematoma of the T-spine that resolved within hours of administration of high dose steroids. A 22-year-old man presented 10 days after sustaining blunt trauma during a motor vehicle crash. He developed signs of acute cord compression with loss of sensation and motor function in bilateral lower extremities with priapism. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a spinal epidural hematoma with 50% canal stenosis at the T4 level. His symptoms improved 1 h after the administration of high dose steroids. All symptoms resolved completely while the patient was in the Emergency Department and he was treated conservatively by Neurosurgery with no further sequelae. Thoracic spinal epidural hematoma is an uncommon condition that may present in delayed fashion after trauma with significant neurologic compromise. If neurologic symptoms improve with initial steroid therapy, patients with this condition may be treated conservatively with steroids and observation.     

自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿的MRI诊断及鉴别诊断

目的探讨自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿的MRI表现及鉴别诊断。方法11例自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿，男7例，女4例，年龄27—74岁，平均53岁。本组病例均无明确外伤史。常规行SE T1WI、T2WI矢状位及T2WI轴位，部分患者行脂肪抑制。6例注射Gd—DTPA增强扫描。结果11例自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿中，9例位于椎管内背侧，2例位于椎管内背外侧。病变范围累及4—5个锥体节段，颈段8例，胸段3例。血肿呈长条状及长梭形。5例血肿呈T1WI、T2WI高信号，4例血肿呈T1WI、T2WI等、低、高混杂信号，2例呈T1WI及T2WI等信号。增强扫描，2例血肿壁强化，4例未见强化。结论MRI是脊髓硬膜外血肿最佳检查方法，能清楚显示血肿部位、范围，区分急慢性血肿，判定脊髓受压受损情况。     

Acute spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma associated with intraspinal lymphangioma: A case report

BACKGROUNDSpontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rare neurosurgical emergency.CASE SUMMARYA 53-year-old healthy woman suffered from complete paraplegia in both legs and loss of all sensation below the xiphoid process. She was diagnosed as acute spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma caused by an intraspinal lymphangioma. The primary lab survey showed all within normal limits. Presence of a posteriorly epidural space-occupying lesion at the T4-T8 level of the spinal canal was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging. A decompressive laminectomy was performed from the T4 to T7 levels at the sixth hour following abrupt onset of complete paraplegia. The lesion was confirmed as lymphangioma. This patient recovered well within one month.CONCLUSIONThis study reports a case of acute spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma caused by an intraspinal lymphangioma with well recovery after surgical intervention.     

颈椎手术后硬膜外血肿形成的预防护理

目的：探讨颈椎术后硬膜外血肿形成原因及预防护理干预措施。方法：我科2008年1月～2010年12月收住颈椎手术患者256例,术后均给予观察病情、定期翻身、引流管护理、观察四肢感觉运动变化等措施。结果：本组中有17例出现引流管引流不畅,给予及时处理,未发生硬膜外血肿形成,其余病例均没有血肿形成。结论：颈椎术后硬膜外血肿形成的原因很多,而护理干预对硬膜外血肿形成的预防起到十分重要的作用。