Traumatic retroclival hematoma complicated with hyponatremia and delayed traumatic intracranial hematoma in an adult: A case report

Intracranial hematoma is a common variety of brain insults in trauma. However, posterior fossa hematoma in the retroclival location is quite unusual. There are limited numbers of case reports regarding traumatic retroclival hematoma. Some are managed with surgery in this condition. We present a traumatic retroclival hematoma in a 34-year-old gentleman who sustained brain trauma in a motor vehicle accident. His condition was further complicated by hyponatremia and delayed traumatic intracerebral hematoma in a distant location. The only symptom he had later was severe headache which could be attributed to delayed traumatic intracerebral hematoma and hyponatremia. He was managed conservatively and discharged on the 12th day from the hospital.

Management of traumatic posterior fossa epidural hematomas in pediatrics: our experience and review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Conservative management of posterior fossa epidural hematoma in the pediatric age group has been increasingly considered in the last decade with good clinical outcomes and comparable results to surgical intervention in carefully selected patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of observation in the management of pediatric patients with posterior fossa epidural hematoma (PFEDH) in our tertiary hospital and present a literature review on PFEDH pediatric patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH), a tertiary hospital in North Jordan. All pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who were admitted with a diagnosis of PFEDH from January 2010 to December 2020 were included. Demographic data, trauma type, clinical signs and symptoms on admission, CT findings, treatment type, and outcomes were collected and assessed. The outcome was measured using the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) on discharge from the hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 16 patients were identified and included in this study. Nine patients were managed conservatively and 7 surgically. The mean age was 7.7 ± 6 years ranging from 1 to 18 years. Falls were the most common cause of injury. Vomiting was the most frequent presenting symptom. Except for 1 patient, 14 patients had good outcomes with a GOS of 5. One case of mortality was seen in our series.

CONCLUSION

Posterior fossa epidural hematoma is a rare clinical condition among the pediatric age group. Early and consecutive CT scans must be obtained for all suspected cases. Successful conservative management can be achieved depending on multiple factors such as hematoma thickness or volume, neurological status on admission, and other radiological findings as shown in our study. The overall prognosis was good in our patients.

Pediatric Retroclival Epidural Hematoma in the Acute Trauma Setting: A Sign of Tectorial Membrane Stripping Injury

OBJECTIVE. A traumatic retroclival epidural hematoma is a rare imaging finding of severe cervical flexion-extension injury in the pediatric population. The purpose of our study was to identify pediatric patients with a retroclival epidural hematoma, record the hematoma size and extent, and examine the major craniocervical ligaments for injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Pediatric patients who suffered a retroclival epidural hematoma were identified retrospectively using the keywords "clivus," "epidural hematoma," and "retroclival" included in head CT reports between 2012 and 2019. The cervical and brain MRI examinations for these patients were reviewed for craniocervical ligament injury by two certified neuroradiologists. Detailed descriptions of patient injuries were recorded along with demographic information, clinical history, patient management, and outcome. RESULTS. Eleven pediatric patients were identified with an acute posttraumatic retroclival epidural hematoma with a mean anteroposterior dimension of 4.4 mm and craniocaudal dimension of 4.3 cm. All patients with a retroclival epidural hematoma who underwent subsequent cervical MRI had a stripping injury of the tectorial membrane (TM). Disruption of additional major craniocervical ligaments on MRI (alar ligament, transverse ligament, longitudinal ligaments, and ligamentum flavum) was relatively rare with the most common associated ligamentous injuries involving the anterior atlantooccipital membrane, apical ligament, and interspinous ligaments. None of the patients suffered a cervical cord or severe intracranial injury. The majority of the patients were managed conservatively with excellent clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION. A posttraumatic retroclival epidural hematoma in the pediatric population is a rare injury often identified initially by head CT and easily overlooked by the radiologist. We propose that a retroclival epidural hematoma in the pediatric population is a direct result of a significant flexion-extension force, with a subsequent stripping injury of the TM from the posterior clivus. Pediatric patients with a posttraumatic retroclival epidural hematoma on initial head CT should undergo a cervical MRI to evaluate the integrity of the TM and other craniocervical ligaments.

A rare case of retroclival epidural hematoma: case report and review of the literature

Retroclival epidural hematomas (REDHs) are rare and almost exclusively found in the pediatric age group. Frequently, the etiology is related to accidental trauma, though other mechanisms have been observed, including coagulopathy, non-accidental trauma, and pituitary apoplexy. A 76-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department after a loss of consciousness. He presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13(E3V4M6). He complained of headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting. A computer tomography (CT) revealed a hemorrhage along the clivus and dens. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated the retroclival hematoma in epidural space. At discharge headache resolved without medical or operative intervention. REDHs are likely underdiagnosed in adults and magnetic resonance imaging is superior for identifying these lesions. Atlanto-occipital dislocation should be considered in all cases of REDH. Most cases exhibit a benign clinical course with conservative management, surgical management is dictated based on the presence of hydrocephalus, brainstem compression, and occipitocervical instability.

Retroclival epidural hematoma: A rare location of epidural hematoma, case report, and review of literature

Retroclival epidural hematoma in adults is uncommon. Although most cases are associated with craniocervical trauma, other mechanisms have been reported, such as coagulopathy, vascular lesions, and pituitary apoplexy. We report two adults diagnosed with retroclival epidural hematoma. One patient was an 89-year-old male with leukemia and thrombocytopenia who sustained a fall and developed a traumatic retroclival epidural hematoma with brainstem compression; surgery could not be performed due to his clinical condition and he died 5 days later. The other patient was a 78-year-old female with atrial fibrillation who developed a spontaneous retroclival epidural hematoma as a result of warfarin use; she was treated conservatively with anticoagulant reversal and methylprednisolone and was subsequently discharged without neurological deficit. Retroclival hematomas are primarily treated conservatively due to the difficulty of surgical approach. The bleeding mechanism and dural and venous anatomy of this region tend to limit hematoma expansion.

Location of the accessory infraorbital foramen with reference to external landmarks and its clinical implications

The aim of this study was to define the location of the accessory infraorbital foramen (AIOF) with reference to accessible external landmarks in order to facilitate orbital and oculoplastic surgical procedures in the maxillofacial region. Forty-four hemifaces from 25 cadavers were dissected. The lateral canthus, subnasal point, and lacrimal caruncle were used as anatomic reference points. The AIOF was observed in 8 of the 44 hemifaces (18.2%) and was situated at a mean distance of 7.2 mm superomedial to the IOF. The horizontal distance from the lacrimal caruncle to the AIOF was 0.3 mm. In all cases the AIOF was situated at a point that was no more than 8 mm from the intersection point of a vertical line passing through the lacrimal caruncle and an oblique line joining the lateral canthus and the subnasal point. Surgeons anesthetizing or performing surgical procedures in the maxillofacial region should be aware of the frequency of the AIOF (18.2%) and its location (on the superomedial side of the IOF). We propose that injecting at the intersection point of a vertical line passing through the lacrimal caruncle and an oblique line joining the lateral canthus and the subnasal point would successfully block the accessory branch of the infraorbital nerve. Likewise, surgeons operating in this region should be aware of the location of the AIOF in order to avoid inadvertent iatrogenic injury to a duplicated infraorbital nerve.

Traumatic Retroclival Epidural Hematoma

Retroclival epidural hematomas are particularly rare conditions that are frequently the result of high-energy, hyperflexion-hyperextension injuries in pediatric patients. We present the case of a 7-year-old previously healthy girl with traumatic retroclival epidural hematoma after a fall from a swing. She presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 with severe neck pain and limitation of cervical movements in all directions. Radiological examination revealed retroclival epidural hematoma, and the patient was managed conservatively with good recovery. Although conservative management leads to good recovery in most cases, retroclival epidural hematomas should always be kept in mind regardless of the severity of trauma.

Tectorial membrane injury in adult and pediatric trauma patients: a retrospective review and proposed classification scheme

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Traumatic tectorial membrane injuries have different radiologic presentations in adult versus pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to identify and classify the different types of tectorial membrane injuries that occur in the adult and pediatric populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who suffered tectorial membrane injury were identified retrospectively using the keywords 'tectorial membrane," "craniocervical ligament tear/injury," and "atlanto-occipital dissociation" included in radiology reports between 2012 and 2018 using Nuance mPower software. All relevant imaging studies were reviewed by two certificates of additional qualification-certified neuroradiologists. Detailed descriptions of injuries were recorded along with any relevant additional findings, including clinical history.

RESULTS

Ten adults and six pediatric patients were identified with acute traumatic injuries of the tectorial membrane. Ninety percent of the adult patients sustained complete disruptions inferior to the clivus, or subclival, with 22% of tears at the level of the basion and 78% at the level of the odontoid tip. In contrast, 83% of pediatric patients suffered a stripping injury of the tectorial membrane located posterior to the clivus, or retroclival. Stretch injuries of the tectorial membrane were identified in 10% of adults and 17% of pediatric patients. The juvenile-type injury, which causes retroclival epidural hematoma, was determined to preferentially occur in patients less than or equal to 14 years of age with a high level of statistical significance (p value = 0.0014).

CONCLUSIONS

A classification system for tectorial membrane injuries is proposed based on this data: type 1-retroclival stripping injury (more common in pediatric patients); type 2a-subclival disruption at the basion and type 2b-subclival disruption at the odontoid (both more common in adult patients); and type 3-thinning of the tectorial membrane.

Posttraumatic Anatomical Injuries of the Craniovertebral Junction and Treatment Implications: Part I

Please check the hierarchy of the section headings and correct if necessary.

Sprain of the Subaxial Cervical Spine in Childhood

Posterior atlantoaxial ligament disruption in children is a rare diagnosis. We present a case of a young girl with cervical spine posterior atlantoaxial ligament disruption post a fall from a climbing frame. Presenting with minimal symptoms other than neck pain, this case highlights the diagnostic difficulty and need for further radiological imaging in paediatric patients with neck pain post trauma.

Transclival Venous Circulation: Anatomic Study

INTRODUCTION

The clivus is a small, central area of the basal cranium with limited surgical access and high morbidity associated with pathologies of its surrounding structures. Therefore thorough knowledge and understanding of the anatomy in this region are crucial for the success of treatments and interpretation of imaging. As to our knowledge, there is no extant cadaveric examination of the transclival veins, so the present study was performed.

METHODS

Fifteen lightly embalmed adult heads underwent blue latex injection of the left and right internal jugular veins. Special attention was given to the presence or absence of transclival vessels. When transclival veins were identified, their intracranial source, point of penetration of the clivus and anterior connections were documented.

RESULTS

Ten (66.7%) specimens were found to have transclival veins. These connected the basilar venous plexus to the retropharyngeal venous plexus on all specimens. Eight of the 10 specimens had multiple transclival veins, and 2 had only 1 vessel. The majority of the transclival veins were found penetrating the clivus at its lower one third. However, 2 specimens also had transclival veins that pierced the clivus at its upper one third.

CONCLUSIONS

An improved understanding of the skull base and its venous drainage can assist clinicians and surgeons in better understanding normal, pathologic, and variant anatomy in this region.

Anatomical and Physiological Differences between Children and Adults Relevant to Traumatic Brain Injury and the Implications for Clinical Assessment and Care

General and central nervous system anatomy and physiology in children is different to that of adults and this is relevant to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury. The controversies and uncertainties in adult neurotrauma are magnified by these differences, the lack of normative data for children, the scarcity of pediatric studies, and inappropriate generalization from adult studies. Cerebral metabolism develops rapidly in the early years, driven by cortical development, synaptogenesis, and rapid myelination, followed by equally dramatic changes in baseline and stimulated cerebral blood flow. Therefore, adult values for cerebral hemodynamics do not apply to children, and children cannot be easily approached as a homogenous group, especially given the marked changes between birth and age 8. Their cranial and spinal anatomy undergoes many changes, from the presence and disappearance of the fontanels, the presence and closure of cranial sutures, the thickness and pliability of the cranium, anatomy of the vertebra, and the maturity of the cervical ligaments and muscles. Moreover, their systemic anatomy changes over time. The head is relatively large in young children, the airway is easily compromised, the chest is poorly protected, the abdominal organs are large. Physiology changes—blood volume is small by comparison, hypothermia develops easily, intracranial pressure (ICP) is lower, and blood pressure normograms are considerably different at different ages, with potentially important implications for cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) thresholds. Mechanisms and pathologies also differ—diffuse injuries are common in accidental injury, and growing fractures, non-accidental injury and spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality are unique to the pediatric population. Despite these clear differences and the vulnerability of children, the amount of pediatric-specific data in TBI is surprisingly weak. There are no robust guidelines for even basics aspects of care in children, such as ICP and CPP management. This is particularly alarming given that TBI is a leading cause of death in children. To address this, there is an urgent need for pediatric-specific clinical research. If this goal is to be achieved, any clinician or researcher interested in pediatric neurotrauma must be familiar with its unique pathophysiological characteristics.

Retroclival epidural haematoma: a diagnosis to suspect. Report of three cases and review of the literature

Retroclival epidural haematoma (REDH) has been reported infrequently. It is a rare entity which is probably underdiagnosed. It is most commonly seen in the paediatric population and is generally associated with high-velocity injuries. We report three cases of paediatric patients diagnosed with REDHs: two of them secondary to high-energy trauma related to a motor-vehicle accident and the other a low-energy trauma after a slip while playing football. All three patients were managed conservatively by cervical immobilisation with favourable outcome. REDH is probably underdiagnosed by computed tomography scan. When the suspicion is high, sagittal reconstructions or magnetic resonance imaging should be considered to confirm the diagnosis. Usually, it is related to hyperflexion or hyperextension cervical injuries secondary to motor vehicle accident. However, it can also be observed in milder injuries.

Spontaneous retroclival hematoma: a case series

OBJECT

Retroclival hematomas are rare, appearing mostly as posttraumatic phenomena in children. Spontaneous retroclival hematoma (SRH) in the absence of trauma also has few descriptions in the literature. None of the reported clinical cases features the combination of an SRH and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Nevertheless, despite extensive cases of idiopathic or angiographically negative subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) of the posterior fossa, only a single case report of a patient with a unique spontaneous retroclival hematoma has been identified. In this study, the authors reviewed the presentation, management, and clinical outcome of this rare entity.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with diagnosed SRH at their institution over a 3-year period. Collected data included clinical history, laboratory results, treatment, and review of all imaging studies performed.

RESULTS

Four patients had SRH. All were appropriately evaluated for coagulopathic and/or traumatic etiologies of hemorrhage, though no etiology could be found. Moreover, all of the patients demonstrated SRH that both clearly crossed the basioccipital synchondrosis and was contained within a nondependent configuration along the retroclival dura mater.

CONCLUSIONS

Spontaneous retroclival hematoma, often associated with IVH, is a rare subtype of intracranial hemorrhage frequently recognized only when MRI demonstrates compartmentalization of the posterior fossa hemorrhage. When angiography fails to reveal an underlying lesion, SRH patients, like patients with traditional angiographically negative SAH, enjoy a remarkably good prognosis.

Isolated traumatic retroclival hematoma: case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Retroclival hematomas are a rare entity. The pathology can be categorized into epidural hematoma or subdural hematoma based on the anatomy of the tectorial membrane. Frequently, the etiology is related to accidental trauma, though other mechanisms have been observed, including coagulopathy, non-accidental trauma, and pituitary apoplexy. There have been only 2 prior cases where both epidural and subdural hematoma co-present.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 8-year-old male was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle accident. He presented with a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 14 with bilateral abducens nerve palsies. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a hemorrhage along the dorsum sella, clivus, and dens. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated the retroclival hematoma in both the subdural and epidural space. At discharge, 19 days after the accident, the abducens nerve palsies had resolved without medical or operative intervention.

CONCLUSION

Retroclival hematoma may present after trauma. Although most cases exhibit a benign clinical course with conservative management, significant and profound morbidity and mortality have been reported. Prompt diagnosis with close observation is prudent. Surgical management is indicated in the presence of hydrocephalus, symptomatic brainstem compression, and occipito-cervical instability.

Retroclival Pneumocephalus Associated with Bilateral Abducens Palsy in a Child

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is less common in children than in adults. Posterior fossa lesions are even more uncommon, but, when present, are usually epidural hematomas. These lesions, even when small, may have a bad outcome because of the possibility of compression of the important structures that the infratentorial compartment contains, such as the brainstem and cranial nerves, and the constriction of the fourth ventricle, causing acute hydrocephalus. Although unusual, posterior fossa lesions are increasingly being diagnosed because of the better quality of and easier access to cranial tomography. In this paper, we report a case of a 12-year-old male patient who had suffered a TBI and presented with several pneumocephali, one of them in the retroclival region, causing a mass effect and then compression of the sixth cranial nerve which is the most susceptible to these injuries. We discuss these traumatic posterior fossa lesions, with an emphasis on retroclival pneumocephalus, not yet described in the literature in association with bilateral abducens palsy. In addition, we discuss associated lesions and the trauma mechanism.

Spontaneous retroclival hematoma in pituitary apoplexy: case series

OBJECT

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder that is most commonly characterized by a combination of sudden headache, visual disturbance, and hypothalamic/hormonal dysfunction. In many cases, there is hemorrhagic infarction of an underlying pituitary adenoma. The resulting clinical symptoms are due to compression of the remaining pituitary, cavernous sinuses, or cranial nerves. However, there are only 2 case reports in the literature describing spontaneous retroclival expansion of hemorrhage secondary to pituitary apoplexy. Ten cases of this entity with a review of the literature are presented here.

METHODS

This is a single-institution retrospective review of 2598 patients with sellar and parasellar masses during the 10-year period between 1999 and 2009. The pituitary and brain MRI and MRI studies were reviewed by 2 neuroradiologists for evidence of apoplexy, with particular attention given to retroclival extension.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients (13 men and 5 women; mean age 54 years) were identified with presenting symptoms of sudden onset of headache and ophthalmoplegia, and laboratory findings consistent with pituitary apoplexy. Ten of these patients (8 men and 2 women; mean age 55 years) had imaging findings consistent with retroclival hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Retroclival hemorrhage was seen in the majority of cases of pituitary apoplexy (56%), suggesting that it is more common than previously thought.

Retroclival collections associated with abusive head trauma in children

Retroclival collections are rare lesions reported almost exclusively in children and strongly associated with trauma. We examine the incidence and imaging characteristics of retroclival collections in young children with abusive head trauma. We conducted a database search to identify children with abusive head trauma ≤ 3 years of age with brain imaging performed between 2007 and 2013. Clinical data and brain images of 65 children were analyzed. Retroclival collections were identified in 21 of 65 (32%) children. Ten (48%) were subdural, 3 (14%) epidural, 2 (10%) both, and 6 (28%) indeterminate. Only 8 of 21 retroclival collections were identifiable on CT and most were low or intermediate in attenuation. Eighteen of 21 retroclival collections were identifiable on MRI: 3 followed cerebral spinal fluid in signal intensity and 15 were bloody/proteinaceous. Additionally, 2 retroclival collections demonstrated a fluid-fluid level and 2 enhanced in the 5 children who received contrast material. Sagittal T1-weighted images, sagittal fluid-sensitive sequences, and axial FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images showed the retroclival collections best. Retroclival collections were significantly correlated with supratentorial and posterior fossa subdural hematomas and were not statistically correlated with skull fracture or parenchymal brain injury. Retroclival collections, previously considered rare lesions strongly associated with accidental injury, were commonly identified in this cohort of children with abusive head trauma, suggesting that retroclival collections are an important component of the imaging spectrum in abusive head trauma. Retroclival collections were better demonstrated on MRI than CT, were commonly identified in conjunction with intracranial subdural hematomas, and were not significantly correlated with the severity of brain injury or with skull fractures.

Neuroimaging findings of retroclival hemorrhage in children: a diagnostic conundrum

BACKGROUND

Retroclival hemorrhage in children may occur in three compartments, namely epidural, subdural, and subarachnoid, frequently secondary to trauma. Retroclival epidural hematoma may be associated with ligamentous injury, which may further result in instability at the craniocervical junction. Retroclival subdural hematoma may indicate a sentinel event for traumatic injury elsewhere within the brain or posterior fossa. Retroclival subarachnoid hemorrhage may have severe clinical consequences related to vasospasm.

OBJECTIVE

Neuroimaging is essential in the recognition, localization, and characterization of retroclival hemorrhage into various compartments and for evaluating potential severe clinical consequences such as craniocervical junction instability, underlying traumatic brain injury, and ischemia secondary to vasospasm. The goal of this paper is to discuss the anatomy and biomechanics of the craniocervical junction as well as the neuroimaging findings associated with various compartments of retroclival hemorrhage in children.

Traumatic epidural retroclival hematoma with odontoid fracture and cardiorespiratory arrest

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVES

To describe a case or traumatic retroclival hematoma with features not previously reported.

SETTING

Single center.

METHODS

Description of a case, in the context of relevant literature on the subject.

RESULTS

Traumatic retroclival hematomas are a rare, typically pediatric, entity. Only four cases of epidural hematoma in adult patients have been reported. We describe an additional case, the first with a fatal course in the acute setting. It is also the first retroclival hematoma associated to an odontoid base fracture.

CONCLUSION

Retroclival hematomas are a rare diagnosis, to be considered in pediatric patients with flexion-extension, high-energy injuries. Morphology is typically epidural. Brain stem and cranial nerve symptoms are typical. Treatment is usually conservative. Outcome is regarded as favorable, with partial recovery and neurologic sequelae. Adult cases are extremely rare. The case we describe adds new characteristics to the scarcity of cases.

Tectorial membrane injury: frequently overlooked in pediatric traumatic head injury

REHs and tectorial membrane injuries are rare complications of pediatric head and neck injuries. We aim to describe the neuroimaging findings in pediatric REHs, to summarize the mechanism of injury, and to correlate the imaging findings with the clinical presentation. We retrospectively evaluated CT and/or MR imaging studies of 10 children with traumatic REH. Most patients were involved in MVAs. The tectorial membrane was injured in 70% of patients, and REHs were medium to large in 80%. None of the patients had a focal spinal cord or brain stem injury, craniocervical junction dislocation, or vertebral fractures. Tectorial membrane disruption was diagnosed in most patients without craniocervical junction-related symptoms. Tectorial membrane lesions and REHs were seen in young children who sustained high-speed head and neck injuries. Clinical symptoms may be minimal or misleading. The radiologist should be aware of these injuries in children. MR imaging appears to be more sensitive than CT.

Traumatic retroclival epidural hematoma in pediatric patient-Case report and review of literature

Background:

Retroclival epidural hematoma (REDH) is a very rare entity in the practical field of neurosurgery. Only a few cases have been reported in literature. The authors present to you case of a 12-year-old female, a victim of road traffic accident (RTA), who had presented to us with loss of consciousness and seizures.

Case Description:

Magnetic resonance imaging revealed retroclival hematoma. She was managed on conservative grounds and discharged with assurance of multiple follow-up visits.

Conclusion:

Very few cases of REDH have been reported in pediatric population to date. It should be suspected in children with head and neck injuries who have been a victim of RTAs. Most likely underdiagnosed due to its rarity; therefore, MRI should be considered when the suspicion is high. Atlanto-occipital dislocation should always be kept under consideration in all cases, and therefore should be managed and monitored very cautiously. In this report, the authors also present concise review of the literature pertaining to the pathogenesis and management of this rare clinical entity which has a high likelihood to be encountered and underdiagnosed by neurosurgeons in Emergency Room.

Retroclival epidural hematoma in a child affected by whiplash cervical injury: a typical case of a rare condition

Traumatic posterior fossa epidural hematomas are uncommon lesions. Among these lesions, retroclival epidural hematomas (REDH) are particularly rare conditions that usually occur in the pediatric population due to predisposing anatomical features in this patient group. We describe a typical case of traumatic REDH from the mechanism of trauma to outcome. This 8-year-old girl was involved in a motor vehicle accident leading to whiplash cervical injury and cranial nerve palsy. Any children involved in a severe motor vehicle accident with such a sequence of events should raise suspicion for prompt diagnosis.