Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematoma: Case Report

Abstract

Cervical epidural hematoma is one of the very rare conditions that cause severe cervical pain. Generally cervical spinal epidural hematomas occur after traumas, but it rarely occurs spontaneously. Many cases can be diagnosed after a detailed neurological examination and magnetic resonance imaging. Urgent surgical treatment is the most appropriate treatment in patients with severe neurological deficit while conservative treatment should be the treatment of choice for patients with mild neurological deficit. In this case report we discussed a 65-year-old woman who presented with for sudden-onset right hemiparesis and cervical pain. Physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cervical epidural hematoma. This case was operated immediately due to severe neurological deficit and rapid worsening in clinical symptoms in the same day. The patient’s complaints partly improved in postoperative early period. After 6 weeks neurological deficit of patient resolved completely. This report suggests that surgical treatment in the early period may have to good results in patients with signs of spiral cord compression on MR imaging and neurological deficit.