Rapid spontaneous recovery after development of a spinal epidural hematoma: a case report

Abstract

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a very rare clinical emergency. A permanent neurological deficit or even death may result if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Many cases can be diagnosed upon detailed neurological examination and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Usually surgery is required but rarely the condition may improve spontaneously. A 46-year-old male patient was admitted to our emergency department because of rapidly evolving severe paraplegia following development of sudden-onset neck pain. Spinal MR imaging detected an epidural hematoma compressing the spinal cord at the C5-T1 level. Clinical and radiological follow-up showed that the patient recovered spontaneously in 48 hours without any need for surgical treatment.