Spontaneous spinal epidural haematomas in children

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Haematomas

“…Children of all ages (range 3 months -18 years) have been identified with SSEH [18]. There does not appear to be a gender relationship to the risk of developing SSEH, however bleeding tendencies, such as haemophilia, which do construe a risk (8% of reported cases), are clearly more common in males [18]. One case was reported to be on anti-coagulation therapy and two have been reported to have an arterio-venous malformation.…”

“…Due to the variance in patient age, young children cannot report the location of pain, however, in those that are conversant most complain of back or neck pain, with radicular pain being less common [18]. Similarly, the neurological dysfunction, particularly sensory disturbance, is harder to define than in an adult population.…”

“…Similarly, the neurological dysfunction, particularly sensory disturbance, is harder to define than in an adult population. However, most children are affected by neurological dysfunction (97%), most commonly spinal cord dysfunction, although isolated nerve root dysfunction is also reported [18].…”

“…Nearly one third of all reported cases are initially suspected of having an alternative diagnosis, most commonly Guillain-Barre syndrome, meningitis, cerebral palsy, Grisel's syndrome or an acute abdomen [18].…”

“…As with adults the typical location of these haematomas are the cervico-thoracic region, and the size of the haematoma may span one to 22 spinal levels [18].…”