A Rare Case of Traumatic Cervical Spinal Epidural Hematoma in a Toddler: A Two-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Traumatic cervical epidural hematoma is a rare disease in the pediatric population. It requires a high level of suspicion in children who presents with acute neurological deficit after trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required to confirm the diagnosis. Early surgical intervention is recommended to have the best neurological outcome. We report a case of a traumatic cervical epidural hematoma in a toddler with complete paraplegia, which partially recovered after decompressive surgery. We would like to emphasize the importance of high suspicion for this condition and the need for an urgent MRI to confirm the diagnosis.

Spontaneous resolution of traumatic cervical epidural hematoma: illustrative case

“… 11 Almost all documented cases of traumatic cervical epidural hematomas in the literature required surgical intervention. 7 , 12 A few cases of traumatic epidural hematoma in other regions of the spine (anterior cervical and lumbar spine) were reported to have spontaneously resolved: 1 case in the anterior cervical epidural space and 4 cases in the lumbar epidural space. Lefranc et al described a 27-year-old male with a traumatic hematoma from C2 to C6 that resolved after 4 hours in the presence of a C7 fracture.…”