Spontaneous Epidural Hematoma of the Cervical Spine Mimicking a Cerebrovascular Accident: A Case Report
Arq. bras. neurocir; 37 (3), 2018
Publication year: 2018
Objective The present study is a case report of a 57-year-old female with controlled
hypertension who presented with spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH)
mimicking a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and was successfully treated by surgical
decompression.
Methods A 57-year-old woman with a medical history of hypertension presented with
a sudden onset of weakness in the right upper and lower extremities. Weakness of
grade 3/5 was noted in her right upper and lower extremities, but there was no motor
weakness of the right facial muscles. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam of the
cervical spine revealed an epidural hematoma extending from level C5 to level C7,
causing spinal cord compression.
Results During surgery, a cervical spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) was evacuated.
Postoperatively, the power in both limbs improved to grade 5/5 just after surgery.
Conclusions A high degree of suspicion, meticulous history taking, and physical
examination have a great importance in these rare conditions because anticoagulant
therapy as a routine treatment for ischemic CVA could be life-threatening.