Thoracic intradural arachnoid cyst associated with surgical removal of epidural hematoma--case report.
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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. (+info)
The poor outcome of the delayed diagnosis of acute spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: two cases report.
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We present two patients who had acute paraplegia with sensory loss due to spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH). One had myocardial infraction and the other had deep vein thrombosis, and the former was treated with anticoagulants and the latter was treated with thrombolytic agent. We analyzed the neurological status of our two cases each between its preoperative and postoperative state. Postoperatively both showed no improvement of neurologic symptom, and on follow-up of 12 months, one showed no neurologic improvement and the other showed a insignificant improvement of lower extremity muscle power (trace knee extensor/ankle dorsi-flexor). We thought that this poor outcome was due to delayed operation, which was done more than 24 hr after the symptom onset. The outcome in SSEH is essentially determined by the time taken from symptom onset to operation. Therefore, early and precise diagnosis such as careful history taking and MRI evaluation is necessary. (+info)
Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma: a therapeutical challenge? Report of an unusual case.
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We report the conservative treatment of a spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma attending with acute extensive neurological deficits, which resolved spontaneously. Spontaneous remission of spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma with severe neurological deficit is rare in the literature. An 80 year old man was admitted to our hospital presenting sciatica followed by rapid development of paraparesis and cauda equina syndrome, which represents a neurosurgical emergency. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a multilevel epidural haematoma from L1 to L5. During the initial diagnostic procedure the symptoms started to decline unexpectedly, so the surgical intervention could be withdrawn. Twenty four hours after admission the patient was almost free of symptoms, mobile, and continent. Awareness and high index of suspicion, and a willingness to seek the prompt help of the imaging department, are crucial to successful management before the opportunity to treat is lost. (+info)
Spinal epidural haematoma is increasingly picked up using magnetic resonance imaging, especially following trauma. The presentation can be varied especially if there is a trivial history of trauma. Spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage can occur in spinal haematoma as a rare and unusual presentation and can be easily misdiagnosed. The key to early diagnosis is a strong suspicion and careful repeated neurological examination. We present an illustrative case. (+info)
Analysis of the risk factors for the development of post-operative spinal epidural haematoma.
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In order to identify the risk factors and the incidence of post-operative spinal epidural haematoma, we analysed the records of 14 932 patients undergoing spinal surgery between 1984 and 2002. Of these, 32 (0.2%) required re-operation within one week of the initial procedure and had an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code for haematoma complicating a procedure (998.12). As controls, we selected those who had undergone a procedure of equal complexity by the same surgeon but who had not developed this complication. Risks identified before operation were older than 60 years of age, the use of pre-operative non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and Rh-positive blood type. Those during the procedure were involvement of more than five operative levels, a haemoglobin < 10 g/dL, and blood loss > 1 L, and after operation an international normalised ratio > 2.0 within the first 48 hours. All these were identified as significant (p < 0.03). Well-controlled anticoagulation and the use of drains were not associated with an increased risk of post-operative spinal epidural haematoma. (+info)
Pure cervical radiculopathy due to spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH): report of a case solved conservatively.
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INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is widely recognised throughout the literature as a cause of myelopathy, radicular compression being very rarely reported. Surgical management is almost always recommended, especially in the cases of spinal cord compression. Conservative treatment is reported as a curiosity and only in the case of spontaneous improvement. This report presents the particular case of a 64-year-old patient undergoing anticoagulant therapy that had a cervical radiculopathy due to a SSEH confirmed by MRI. The patient improved spontaneously and symptoms were solved with unconventional conservative treatment and without stopping the anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous epidural haematoma must be kept in mind when patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy have a sudden onset of cervicobrachialgia. Even though most spinal surgeons advocate surgical treatment, a conservative approach may lead to a complete recovery and may be considered as a good option in the case of radicular involvement. Discontinuation of the anticoagulant therapy may not always be needed, especially when the clinical syndrome improves spontaneously. (+info)
Epidural haematoma after a combined spinal-epidural anaesthetic in a patient treated with clopidogrel and dalteparin.
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We report a case of a spinal-epidural haematoma occurring in a patient after a combined spinal-epidural anaesthetic. She had been taking clopidogrel and had received perioperative dalteparin for thromboprophylaxis. Despite adhering to standard guidelines concerning administration of low molecular weight heparin perioperatively and stopping the clopidogrel 7 days before the anaesthetic, the patient developed an epidural haematoma. (+info)
Magnetic resonance image findings in the early post-operative period after anterior cervical discectomy.
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If early neurological deterioration occurs following anterior cervical discectomy, the patient should be evaluated by urgent MRI scanning. In order to interpret such a scan it is essential to know what the normal post-operative MRI appearance is following an uncomplicated procedure. In the lumbar spine it is well recognized that early post-operative imaging following discectomy is difficult to interpret with a high rate of false positive scans. The normal appearance of MRI in the early post-operative period was evaluated prospectively in 15 patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy without fusion for either cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy. MRI was performed on the first post-operative day, at 6 weeks and 6 months. The successful outcome of the procedure was validated by uniform improvement of Visual Analogue Scale measurement for neck and arm pain, the Neck Disability Index and European Myelopathy Score as appropriate. In contrast to the established findings following lumbar discectomy, only two cases showed a persistent epidural mass in the first post-operative scan and this had completely resolved at 6 months. All patients had foraminal narrowing and root or cord compression pre-operatively. Sixty six percent of cases showed persistent foraminal narrowing on sequential imaging up to 6 months despite showing good symptomatic improvement. All cases demonstrated high signal in the operated disc space on T2 weighted imaging on the first post-operative day and this finding persisted in 13 of 15 scans performed at 6 weeks. Post contrast imaging demonstrated no enhancement of operated disc space and adjacent vertebral body on the first post-operative day, whereas all scans at 6 weeks showed enhancement and such enhancement persisted at 6 months in 50%. Persistent epidural filling defects are uncommon following successful anterior cervical discectomy but persistence of foraminal narrowing is common despite successful outcome. Enhancement of the disc space is also common and does not in itself imply infection. (+info)