Management and outcome of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas are rare and potentially disabling neurological emergencies. Its lead to devastating neurologic outcomes and most patient does not recover completely. The clinical presentation is diverse and includes a severe acute attack, radiating pain at the back, interscapular, or neurological deficits. We report a case of a young woman, 24-year-old, that was admitted to our department for sudden non-traumatic cervical spinal cord compression syndrome (Type A of the American Spinal Cord Injury Association “ASIA A”) including intense cervical back pain, sensory loss, and tetraplegia. Her past medical history was unremarkable. The MRI confirmed a cervical mass responsible for the spinal cord compression and the emergent surgical intervention allow us to evacuate acute C3-C7 hematoma. The patient never recovers from the neurologic deficit despite the emergent management of her case followed by functional musculoskeletal rehabilitation for two years.