Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma: A Case of a Benign Presentation and Emergency Department Management

Derrick Huang; Stephanie Iken; Samyr Elbadri; Michael Falgiani; Latha Ganti

doi:10.7759/cureus.23532

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma: A Case of a Benign Presentation and Emergency Department Management

Cureus. 2022 Mar 27;14(3):e23532. doi: 10.7759/cureus.23532. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Authors

Derrick Huang^{1

2}, Stephanie Iken¹, Samyr Elbadri^{1

2

3}, Michael Falgiani^{1

2

3}, Latha Ganti^{4

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Emergency Medicine, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, Ocala, USA.
² Emergency Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, USA.
³ Emergency Medicine, Envision Physician Services, Plantation, USA.
⁴ Emergency Medicine, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Florida Ocala Hospital, Ocala, USA.

Abstract

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas (SSEHs) are neurological emergencies complicated by a wide array of presentations. In this study, we report a case of a patient who presented with neck pain and was diagnosed with an SSEH with computed tomography (CT) angiography with subsequent confirmation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The high-risk location and size of the lesion guided management and surgical intervention. In a stable patient presenting to the emergency department without focal neurological deficits, clinical suspicion and assessment of risk factors are integral in the evaluation of patient risk and subsequent imaging and intervention.

Keywords: extradural bleeding; neurologic emergency; spinal epidural hematoma (seh); spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage; spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma.

Publication types

Case Reports