Conservative Management in Cervical Spinal Epidural Hematoma–A New Treatment Paradigm: Critical Review

Publisher: Jaypee Infomedia

E-ISSN: 2348-6031|3|2|44-47

ISSN: 0975-2625

Source: The Journal of Spinal Surgery, Vol.3, Iss.2, 2016-04, pp. : 44-47

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

ABSTRACTSpinal epidural hematomas are rare, and their posttraumatic etiology is still rare. Patients' symptomatology varies from clinically silent to dense neurological deficits. Pathogenesis of progression is unclear. They usually involve multiple spinal segments. Review of the literature showed that early surgical intervention is associated with excellent outcome in patients with significant deficits. Such cases usually require long segment surgical decompression. We present a rare case review of posttraumatic long segment anterior cervical epidural hematoma with significant neurological deficit, which was managed conservatively because the patient was not willing to have any surgical intervention. The patient improved gradually with better functional outcome. Our case shows that conservative treatment may be considered as an alternate management option in the treatment of anterior spinal epidural hematomas, thus avoiding long segment decompressive laminectomy. The mechanism of spontaneous resolution of spinal epidural hematoma is also discussed with a review of the literature.How to cite this articleGopal VV, Balakrishnan PK. Conservative Management in Cervical Spinal Epidural Hematoma–A New Treatment Paradigm: Critical Review. J Spinal Surg 2016;3(2): 44-47.