Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma during pregnancy: case report and literature review

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma During Pregnancy: A Case Report

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) during pregnancy is an extremely rare neurological emergency, often presenting with sudden neck pain and progressive limb weakness. This report describes a 26-year-old pregnant woman at 26 weeks of gestation who developed paraplegia and severe muscle weakness without prior trauma. MRI revealed a cervical epidural hematoma, leading to an emergency C6 and C7 laminectomy. Despite surgery, the patient remained quadriplegic, with follow-up MRI showing persistent myelomalacia. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing SSEH during pregnancy, emphasizing the need for prompt intervention and ongoing research to improve outcomes for affected patients.

Spontaneous spinal hematomas: A case series

PURPOSE

Spontaneous spinal hematoma (SSH), a rare neurological disorder, demands immediate diagnostic evaluation and intervention to prevent lasting deficits. This case series analyzes instances, particularly highlighting cases where vascular causes were identified despite inconclusive initial imaging.

METHODS

In a retrospective study of 20 patients treated for SSH at a Level I spine center from 01/01/2017 to 11/15/2023, we examined demographics, clinical presentation, imaging, and treatment details. Excluding traumatic cases, we present 4 instances of SSH associated with diverse vascular pathologies.

RESULTS

Patient ages ranged from 39 to 85 years, with a median age of 66 years. 45% were male, and 55% were female. Among 20 cases, 14 were epidural hematomas, 4 subdural, 1 combined epidural and subdural, and 1 subarachnoid hemorrhage. 85% presented with neurological deficits, while 3 solely had pain-related symptoms. 55% were under anticoagulant medication, and vascular anomalies were found in 25% of cases. The cause of SSH remained unclear in 20% of cases. MRI was performed for all patients, and DSA was conducted in 25% of cases. The 4 highlighted cases involved individuals with distinct vascular pathologies managed surgically.

CONCLUSION

Urgent attention is crucial for SSH due to possible lasting neurological consequences. The study emphasizes comprehensive diagnostics and surgical exploration, especially in cases with unclear etiology, to identify and address vascular causes, preventing hematoma progression or recurrence. Despite their rarity, vascular malformations contributing to spinal hematomas warrant particular attention.

Delayed postoperative spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: Case based review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Postoperative spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEDH) is a rare complication in clinical practice. Despite its rarity, SSEDH is a critical emergency situation associated with neurological deficits, and improper or delayed management may lead to severe consequences. Therefore, surgical operators should familiarize themselves with SSEDH and give it more attention.

CASE PRESENTATION

This study describes the case of an elderly woman diagnosed with a left unilateral femoral neck fracture, severe osteoporosis, and multi-segmental vertebral compression fracture. Following artificial femoral head replacement surgery, the patient developed postoperative SSEDH. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical removal of the posterior epidural hematoma and spinal cord decompression. The postoperative recovery was favorable, with normal muscle strength and tension in both lower limbs. A 4-year follow-up showed no complications.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

The occurrence of SSEDH during the perioperative period of non-spinal surgeries is relatively uncommon. However, SSEDH is a neurosurgical emergency associated with neurological deficits, and prompt surgical intervention is crucial for successful treatment.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should enhance their knowledge of SSEDH and remain vigilant towards this condition. Literature review highlights the significance of factors such as aging in the development of SSEDH following non-spinal surgeries in the perioperative period.

Ultraearly Hematoma Evacuation (<12 Hours) Associated with Better Functional Outcome in Patients with Symptomatic Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma

BACKGROUND

Early decompressive surgery within 24 hours improves the functional outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury; however, little is known about the effect of early surgery for spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ultraearly hematoma evacuation (<12 hours) for SSEH.

METHODS

Patients with SSEH treated with surgical hematoma evacuation at our institution between January 2000 and July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Neurologic function was evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). AIS grades A-C were defined as severe, and grades D and E as mild. AIS grades D and E at the final follow-up were considered favorable outcomes. Preoperative status and postoperative treatment results were compared between patients who had hematoma evacuation within 12 hours of onset and those who underwent surgery after 12 hours.

RESULTS

Twenty-five consecutive patients were included in the analysis. Preoperatively, 23 patients (92.0%) had severe AIS. Fourteen (56.0%) patients underwent early surgery. At the final follow-up, 21 patients (84.0%) achieved favorable outcomes. Patients treated with ultraearly surgery had significantly better outcomes (100% vs. 63.6%, P = 0.03). Additionally, the time from onset to surgery was significantly shorter in patients with AIS improvement by 2 or more grades than that in patients with AIS improvement of 1 or less (median 8 hours vs. 14 hours, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultraearly surgery within 12 hours for SSEH was associated with better functional outcomes.

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma Complicated by Pulmonary Embolism During Pregnancy: A Case Report

Background

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, without discernable underlying conditions, is considered a neurological emergency, and is rare during pregnancy.

Case Presentation

We report the case of a 24-year-old patient at 37 weeks of gestation. She had back pain that progressed to paraplegia of both lower limbs within 2 days. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion behind the spinal cord at the T5–T6 level, suggestive of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. Due to the rapid recovery of muscle strength in her lower limbs after an emergency cesarean section, we used methylprednisolone therapy to reduce spinal edema rather than decompression of the spinal canal. We incidentally found that the patient’s left pulmonary artery was occluded. In consideration of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma as relative contraindication to anticoagulation, and in the absence of pulmonary embolism symptoms, including good partial oxygen pressure, we did not administer anticoagulant therapy. The patient’s condition improved rapidly in the following week.

Conclusion

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma concomitant with pulmonary artery embolism is an extremely rare manifestation during pregnancy. As exemplified by our case, desirable treatment outcomes are possible under such cases.

A case of spontaneous thoracolumbar epidural hematoma in Covid-19 pneumonia

Introduction and importance

Covid-19 is an important disease that still occupies our agenda, and as time passes, we have been observing its extrapulmonary manifestations. In this study, we presented a case of spontaneous thoracolumbar epidural hematoma, which we could not attribute to any cause other than Covid-19.

Case presentation

We presented a 55-year-old female patient whose etiology could not be found to be compatible with the literature. In the formation of this disease, we did not have any positive findings except for Covid-19, which she had 20 days ago. The patient had no history of anticoagulant or antiaggregant drug use. He had no history of trauma and no signs. Hematological tests were normal. We evacuated the hematoma in the T12-L1 vertebral canal after laminectomy and the pathology result was compatible with hematoma.

Clinical discussion

Although spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is rare, many factors are blamed for its etiology. Many extrapulmonary complications of Covid-19 stand out in the literature. The fact that the patient had Covid-19 did not affect the neurosurgical approach, but we think that it is useful to examine the complaints of patients with Covid-19 more systematically.

Conclusion

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas are rare. Making the correct diagnosis often takes time and is difficult. Decompression surgery is at the forefront as a treatment option. However, conservative treatment can be performed in suitable patients. As we saw in this case, we should consider Covid-19 among the etiological causes.

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The etiology of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is multifactorial.

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Covid-19 is one of these etiological factors.

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Etiological cause does not change the approach to spontaneous spinal hematoma.

Not All Subarachnoid Hemorrhages in Pregnancy Are Intracranial in Origin: A Case Report

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is uncommon in pregnancy and may be caused by intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, venous thrombosis, or preeclampsia. We present an unusual case of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a term parturient where the bleeding originated from an extracranial source, namely a cervicothoracic arteriovenous malformation. This case highlights the challenge of diagnosing this condition when the initial presentation may be nonspecific, lacking in neurologic deficits, and confounded by the simultaneous presence of preeclampsia.

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma After Normal Spontaneous Delivery with Epidural Analgesia: Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy is a known risk factor for spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. During cesarean section or vaginal delivery, the unstable hemodynamic status that may occur owing to fluctuation of intra-abdominal pressure increases the possibility of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. During labor and the postpartum period, neurologic symptoms may be masked by labor pain or anesthesia block, which makes early diagnosis difficult, especially in the obstetric clinic without a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 28-year-old woman who had a normal spontaneous delivery under epidural anesthesia developed bilateral lower limb flaccid paralysis and loss of sensation 12.5 hours after delivery. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 5.2 × 0.9 × 2 cm spinal epidural hematoma with severe spinal cord stenosis at the T2-T5 level with no evidence of a vascular anomaly. After emergent evacuation of the spinal epidural hematoma, lower limb muscle power improved from 0/5 to 1/5, and sensation gradually returned to bilateral lower limbs 22 days postoperatively. Deep vein thrombosis developed at 35 days postoperatively, and an inferior vena cava filter was implanted with urokinase infusion for thrombolytic therapy. She was discharged on day 52 after admission, and lower limb muscle power returned to normal after 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should observe postpartum women for signs of myelopathy or back tenderness and closely monitor neurologic function until anesthesia has run its course. A prompt diagnosis can enable prompt intervention.

Sudden Aggravated Radicular Pain Caused by Hemorrhagic Spinal Angiolipomas After Back Massage

BACKGROUND

Spinal angiolipomas (SALs) are benign tumors that usually present a slow progressive spinal cord or radicular compression. Acute myelopathy or acute aggravated radicular syndrome are exceedingly rare.

CASE DESCRIPTION

The authors report an original case with sudden aggravated radicular pain caused by hemorrhagic SALs. A 54-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of mild back pain, and the pain was significantly aggravated after a therapeutic back massage. Neurologic examination showed pain and hyperalgesia between T4 and T7 dermatome, from back to front, just like a band. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a dorsally located epidural lesion (T4-T6) and a small intratumoral hemorrhage at the lower part of the tumor. A bilateral T4-T6 laminectomy was performed to achieve total excision of the tumors. Histologic examination showed that the tumors were composed of mature adipose tissue and vascular tissue as angiolipomas. The postoperative course was uneventful with complete neurologic recovery 4 days after the surgery. MRI at 1-year follow-up indicated no recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

SALs are unusual benign tumors that are composed of mature fatty tissue and abnormal blood vessels; sudden aggravated spinal cord or radicular compression syndrome is rare. MRI is the best choice in the diagnosis of SALs. Surgery may be performed in different ways depending on the type of SALs, and the prognosis is generally good.

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematomas in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas (SSEH) are rare yet severe conditions. In pregnancy, this condition is challenging to diagnose and treat because of the risks to the mother and fetus. This study reviews the literature on SSEHs in pregnancy.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the English literature on SSEHs from 1990 until 2018. Outcome measures were mode of presentation, risk factors, initial neurologic findings, diagnostic investigations, site and size of the SSEH, treatment, neurologic recovery, and survival.

RESULTS

Fourteen publications (16 patients) were included. Two patients presented in the second trimester, with the remainder in the third trimester. All patients presented with back pain, and 15 subsequently developed spinal cord dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all cases. The cervicothoracic region was the most commonly affected, and the average hematoma size extended across 3.9 vertebral levels. All patients with neurologic dysfunction underwent surgical decompression. In women under 32 weeks' gestation, caesarean section was not routinely performed. In contrast, women of gestational age of 32 weeks or more underwent a caesarean section prior to spinal decompression. Women without neurologic dysfunction underwent a caesarean section and neurologic monitoring without decompression. All patients with abnormal neurology improved after surgery, except 1 patient. No patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

In pregnancy, SSEHs typically present in the second or third trimesters with back pain, predominantly in the cervicothoracic region, followed by progressive neurologic dysfunction. MRI is diagnostic, and the treatment depends on the patient's neurologic dysfunction and gestational age.

Nonsurgical Intervention in a Preeclamptic Patient with Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma

Background

Spontaneous epidural hematoma (SEH) is a rare finding in pregnancy, especially since most pregnant women do not have risk factors for developing SEH. The presence of epidural anesthesia can delay the diagnosis of SEH in pregnant patients. Immediate surgical decompression is the current standard of care for treating SEH.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 37-year-old pregnant woman with preeclampsia with severe features who developed neurological deficits that were initially attributed to her epidural anesthesia. She was eventually found to have SEH with spinal stenosis at T5-T6 on MRI. Oral antihypertensives were used to keep the patient's blood pressures within normal limits, and she subsequently had complete resolution of her neurological symptoms and her SEH on imaging.

Conclusion

Preeclampsia may contribute to the development of SEH in pregnancy, and strict blood pressure control may potentially provide a safe and effective alternative to neurosurgery for these patients.

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma: A Case Report

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) manifests from blood accumulating in the epidural space, compressing the spinal cord and leading to acute neurological deficits. MRI provides the most valuable visualization of the location and hematoma mass as well as the presence of the spinal cord compression. SSEH can occur in any segments of the spinal cord but predominantly at the posterior cervicothoracic (C5–T2) and thoracolumbar (T10–L2) levels. The source of hemorrhage SSEH can be both vertebral venous plexus system or arterial source. Decompressive laminectomy and hematoma evacuation are the standard surgical procedures upon diagnosis of SSEH, although spontaneous recoveries have been reported. The degree of preoperative neural deficit is a major prognostic factor. Conservative management has proven effective, although feasible only if spontaneous recovery is manifested. Decompressive laminectomy should continue to remain readily available, given the inverse correlation between operative interval and recovery.

Successful Recovery from Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma in a Patient Undergoing Hemodialysis

Patient: Male, 70

Final Diagnosis: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma

Symptoms: Abdominal pain • chest pain • complete paraplegia

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Conservative management

Specialty: Nephrology

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Haematoma in a 34-week Pregnant Woman: A Case Report and Literature Review

Acute spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma is uncommon; however, it can result in permanent neurological damage if not promptly treated. It occurs very rarely during pregnancy. We report a case of acute spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a 34-year-old primigravida woman at 34 weeks’ gestation who presented with sudden back pain and paraplegia. Emergency spinal decompression surgery was done with the continuation of pregnancy. We discuss the presentation and management of the rare condition with a review of the literature.

Spinal epidural hematomas: personal experience and literature review of more than 1000 cases

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the formation of acute spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) by correlating etiology, age, site, clinical status, and treatment with immediate results and long-term outcomes. METHODS The authors reviewed their series of 15 patients who had been treated for SEH between 1996 and 2012. In addition, the authors reviewed the relevant international literature from 1869 (when SEH was first described) to 2012, collecting a total of 1010 cases. Statistical analysis was performed in 959 (95%) cases that were considered valid for assessing the incidence of age, sex, site, and clinical status at admission, correlating each of these parameters with the treatment results. Statistical analysis was also performed in 720 (71.3%) cases to study the incidence of etiological factors that favor SEH formation: coagulopathy, trauma, spinal puncture, pregnancy, and multifactorial disorders. The clinical status at admission and long-term outcome were studied for each group. Clinical status was assessed using the Neuro-Grade (NG) scale. RESULTS The mean patient age was 47.97 years (range 0-91 years), and a significant proportion of patients were male (60%, p < 0.001). A bimodal distribution has been reported for age at onset with peaks in the 2nd and 6th decades of life. The cause of the SEH was not reported in 42% of cases. The etiology concerned mainly iatrogenic factors (18%), such as coagulopathy or spinal puncture, rather than noniatrogenic factors (29%), such as genetic or metabolic coagulopathy, trauma, and pregnancy. The etiology was multifactorial in 11.1% of cases. The most common sites for SEH were C-6 (n = 293, 31%) and T-12 (n = 208, 22%), with maximum extension of 6 vertebral bodies in 720 cases (75%). At admission, 806 (84%) cases had moderate neurological impairment (NG 2 or 3), and only lumbar hematoma was associated with a good initial clinical neurological status (NG 0 or 1). Surgery was performed in 767 (80%) cases. Mortality was greater in patients older than 40 years of age (9%; p < 0.01). Sex did not influence any of these data (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Factors that contribute to the formation of acute SEH are iatrogenic, not iatrogenic, or multifactorial. The treatment of choice is surgery, and the results of treatment are influenced by the patient's clinical and neurological status at admission, age, and the craniocaudal site.

Anesthetic management of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma during pregnancy: a case report

Background

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy is a quite rare event requiring emergent decompressive surgery in the majority of cases to prevent permanent neurological damage. Therefore, there is little data in the literature regarding anesthetic management of cervical localization during pregnancy. The potential for difficult airway management with the patient under general anesthesia is one of the major concerns that needs to be addressed to prevent further cord compression. Anesthetic management should also include measures to maintain the mean arterial pressure to improve spinal cord perfusion. Furthermore, spine surgery in pregnant patients needs special consideration in terms of positioning and in the postoperative period.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 35-year-old white woman at 21 weeks of gestation with a spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma. Fiberoptic bronchoscope-guided nasal intubation was a safe option to ensure a higher rate of successful endotracheal intubation while minimizing the risk of aggravating the injury. Her care posed other multiples challenges that required a multidisciplinary team approach.

Conclusions

The case of our patient serves as a reminder of this rare condition and its implications regarding anesthesia.

Puerperal ventral epidural hematoma after epidural labor analgesia

Serious complications in obstetric anesthesia are a rare occurrence. High neuraxial block, respiratory arrest in labor and delivery, and an unrecognized spinal catheter are among the most frequently reported serious complications. A serious complication occurs in approximately 1:3000 obstetric patients. Neuraxial hematoma after obstetric epidural analgesia or anesthesia is extremely rare. We present a case of a puerperal spinal epidural hematoma following epidural labor analgesia. The patient presented with foot drop, which resolved after conservative treatment. We reviewed the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and treatment options for this rare complication.

Acute and Rapid Development of Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma Associated with Combined Aspirin-Dipyridamole Therapy: A Case Report

CASE

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a known, although rare, clinical entity that may be challenging to diagnose. This case report describes the rapid development of a large SSEH in an elderly patient on aspirin-dipyridamole combination therapy after she shifted her position in bed. Magnetic resonance imaging obtained 4 hours after the onset of symptoms demonstrated a large spinal epidural hematoma that extended from T4 to L1.

CONCLUSION

With early diagnosis, the patient was successfully treated with a laminectomy and evacuation of the hematoma, and there was full neurological recovery.

Spontaneously Resolved Recurrent Cervical Epidural Hematoma in a 37-Week Primigravida

Study Design Case report. Objective To describe a patient with a recurrent spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) during pregnancy that had spontaneous remission. Methods A 27-year-old primigravida at 37 weeks' gestation suddenly felt a strong left shoulder pain without any trauma. She had a history of fenestration for a spontaneous cervical hematoma when she was 18 years old. An emergency magnetic resonance imaging revealed a recurrence of the cervical epidural hematoma at the C4-T1 level, but she had no paralysis. Results The patient subsequently underwent a cesarean section and delivered a healthy male infant. Her spinal epidural hematoma disappeared. Multislice computed tomography showed no evidence for a vascular malformation or tumor. Three years after the initial cesarean section, she underwent a second one and delivered another male infant. Conclusions We report on a rare case of recurrent SSEH during pregnancy with no neurologic deficits that was treated nonoperatively with close observation and resulted in spontaneous resolution. In such patients with no neurologic deficits, nonoperative management with close observation may be a reasonable alternative.

An Unusual Case of a Large Hematorrachis Associated with Multi-Level Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures; a Case Report

Spinal epidural haemorrhage may present as back pain associated with radicular symptoms and can be a catastrophic clinical scenario with progression to paraplegia or even sudden death. Being a rare entity, it needs a high index of clinical suspicion to diagnose it. Fractures have been documented as a cause of hematorrachis but such hematomas only extend to one or two vertebral segments. Large epidural hematomas are usually associated with conditions like bleeding diathesis, arterio-venous malformations, plasma cell myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Surgical management with immediate evacuation of the hematoma is the usual line of management in patients with neurological deficits. Though rare, monitored and careful conservative management can lead to recovery of neurological symptoms and resolution of the hematoma. We report a case of a very large post traumatic epidural hematorrchis extending to 11 vertebral segments from D3 to L1 vertebral bodies, who had a gradual spontaneous recovery.

Neuroradiology in women of childbearing age

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes safety concerns associated with diagnostic neuroimaging in patients who are of childbearing age, focusing on diagnostic modalities and radiologic features of neurologic conditions encountered by pregnant women.

RECENT FINDINGS

During pregnancy, women experience a range of physiologic changes that can affect neurologic function. These include endocrine, hemodynamic, endothelial, immunologic, and coagulopathic changes that can alter susceptibility to stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, demyelination, venous thrombosis, and other neurologic conditions. Unique safety concerns are associated with imaging procedures performed to diagnose neurologic conditions that occur during pregnancy.

SUMMARY

This review discusses the use of diagnostic neuroimaging, including administration of IV contrast, in pregnant women and in nonpregnant women of childbearing age.

Solitary spinal epidural cavernous angioma: report of nine surgically treated cases and review of the literature

PURPOSE

We intend to report the largest series of spinal epidural cavernomas (SEC), discuss their clinical features, imaging characteristics, surgical findings, outcome analysis and compare them with similar reports in the literature.

METHODS

Among the cases of spinal tumors treated surgically by the authors, there have been nine cases of SEC's. All the data were collected prospectively and the cases have been followed after surgery up to the time of this analysis.

RESULTS

There were six female and three male patients with the ages ranging between 13 and 74 years. The lesions were located in the thoracic spine (4 cases), lumbar spine (4 cases) and one at the sacral level. Clinical presentations included acute spinal pain and paraparesis in two, low back pain and radiculopathy in five, and slowly progressive myelopathy in the other two cases. The lesion was iso-intense with the spinal cord in T1W images and hyperintense in T2W images and showed strong homogeneous enhancement after contrast medium injection in most of our cases. In the presence of hemorrhage inside the lesion, it was hyperintense in both T1W and T2W MR sequences as in our case 6. In the single case presenting with acute hemorrhage, epidural hematoma was the only finding, our case 1. Complete surgical removal was achieved in all our cases, and confirmed by postoperative MRI.

CONCLUSION

SEC is hard to be differentiated from other epidural spinal lesions before intervention but should be considered in the list of differential diagnosis regarding its favorable outcome.

Spinal subdural hematoma as a complication of spinal surgery: can it happen without dural tear?

Post spinal surgery subdural hematoma is a rare entity. This is a report of a case of acute post-operative spinal subdural hematoma, without any dural injury. The case was managed expectantly and went on to complete resolution of the hematoma and full clinical recovery.

Nontraumatic spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy: diagnosis and management concerns

OBJECTIVE

Nontraumatic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) during pregnancy is rare. Therefore, appropriate management of this occurrence is not well defined. The aim of this study was to extensively review the literature on this subject, to propose some novel treatment guidelines.

METHODS

Electronic databases, manual reviews and conference proceedings up to December 2011 were systematically reviewed. Articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in this study if they dealt with nontraumatic SEH during pregnancy. Search protocols and data were independently assessed by two authors.

RESULTS

In all, 23 case reports were found to be appropriate for review. The mean patient age was 28 years and gestational age was 33.2 weeks. Thirteen cases presented with acute interscapular pain. The clinical picture consisted of paraplegia, which occurred approximately 63 h after pain onset. Spinal cord decompression was performed within an average time of 20 h after neurological deficit onset. Fifteen patients had cesarean deliveries, even when the gestational age was less than 36 weeks.

CONCLUSION

This review failed to identify articles, other than case reports, which could assist in the formation of new guidelines to treat SEH in pregnancy. However, we believe that SEH may be managed neurosurgically, without requiring prior, premature, cesarean section.

Spontaneous cervical spinal epidural hematoma in the postpartum period

STUDY DESIGN

We present the case study of a 31-year-old lady who had a spontaneous cervical spinal epidural hematoma in the postpartum period and who presented with sudden onset of neck pain and lower limb weakness for which an emergency decompressive laminectomy was performed with neurological recovery.

OBJECTIVE

To report on the spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in the postpartum period, which is a rare complication during pregnancy and requires early recognition and expedient intervention to prevent permanent neurological sequelae.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

This complication has been described only once previously in the postpartum period. The recovery of the patient described here highlights the importance of early recognition and surgical intervention.

METHODS

A case report of a spontaneous cervical spinal epidural haematoma in the postpartum period is presented and the pertinent literature is then reviewed.

RESULTS

The patient had neurological recovery at 1-year follow-up, although she required clean intermittent self-catheterization once daily for bladder dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Early recognition and intervention for our patient allowed for neurological recovery with a spontaneous cervical spinal epidural hematoma in the postpartum period.