Acute Epidural Hematoma Compressing the Dominant Sigmoid Sinus as an Unusual Cause of Intracranial Hypertension: Case Report and Review of Literature

Post traumatic dural sinus vein stenosis has been rarely described in pediatric population. We present a case of a 9-year-old child that had sustained a head injury after a fall from height causing an acute epidural hematoma compressing the dominant sigmoid sinus. The patient had developed sub acutely signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Prophylactic treatment with anticoagulants was initiated despite the presence of an intracranial bleeding. Clinical and radiological improvements were achieved. We had also reviewed the literature regarding this uncommon entity and discussed other existing diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives. Further gathering of information is essential in order to form a therapeutic protocol.

Multiple different remote epidural hematomas after craniotomy:A case report

BACKGROUND Epidural hematoma is one of the common postoperative complications after craniotomy.However,multiple remote epidural hematomas in different sites,including supratentorial and infratentorial regions,are exceedingly rare.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case in which three remote epidural hematomas occurred after craniotomy.A 21-year-old woman was admitted with a headache for 1 mo,vomiting,and rapid vision loss for 1 wk.Brian magnetic resonance imaging indicated a right thalamic tumor.The intraoperative diagnosis was a cystic tumor,posterior cerebral artery aneurysm,and vascular malformation.The operation was successful.Unfortunately,the patient developed three extradural hematomas within 48 h.Family members consented to the first two hematoma evacuations but refused the third.CONCLUSION More attention should be paid to this kind of rare complication.Adequate preoperative evaluation is important,especially for acute patients.Monitoring neural function and early computed tomography scanning of the brain after surgery should be highlighted.

Modified surgical method of supra-and infratentorial epidural hematoma and the related anatomical study of the squamous part of the occipital bone

BACKGROUND Supra-and infratentorial acute epidural hematoma(SIEDH)is a common posterior cranial fossa epidural hematoma located at the inner surface of the squamous part of the occipital bone(SOB).Traditionally,surgical treatment of the SIEDH requires a combined supra-infratentorial craniotomy.AIM To analyze the morphological characteristics of the SOB and introduce a single supratentorial craniotomy for SIEDH.METHODS Skull computed tomography(CT)scan data from 32 adult patients were collected from January 1,2019 to January 31,2020.On the median sagittal plane of the CT scan,the angle of the SOB(ASOB)was defined by two lines:Line A was defined from the lambdoid suture(LambS)to the external occipital protuberance(EOP),while line B was defined from the EOP to the posterior edge of the foramen magnum(poFM).The operative angle for the SIEDH(OAS)from the supra-to infratentorial epidural space was determined by two lines:The first line passes from the midpoint between the EOP and the LambS to the poFM,while the second line passes from the EOP to the poFM.The ASOB and OAS were measured and analyzed.RESULTS Based on the anatomical study,a single supratentorial craniotomy was performed in 8 patients with SIEDH.The procedure and the results of the modified surgical method were demonstrated in detail.For males,the ASOB was 118.4±4.7 and the OAS was 15.1±1.8;for females,the ASOB was 130.4±5.1 and the OAS was 12.8±2.0.There were significant differences between males and females both in ASOB and OAS.The smaller the ASOB was,the larger the OAS was.The bone flaps in 8 patients were designed above the transverse sinus intraoperatively,and the SIEDH was completely removed without suboccipital craniotomy.The SOB does not present as a single straight plane but bends at an angle around the EOP and the superior nuchal lines.The OAS was negatively correlated with the ASOB.CONCLUSION The single supratentorial craniotomy for SIEDH is reliable and effective.

Spinal epidural hematoma after spinal manipulation therapy:Report of three cases and a literature review

BACKGROUND Spinal manipulation therapy(SMT)has been widely used worldwide to treat musculoskeletal diseases,but it can cause serious adverse events.Spinal epidural hematoma(SEH)caused by SMT is a rare emergency that can cause neurological dysfunction.We herein report three cases of SEH after SMT.CASE SUMMARY The first case was a 30-year-old woman who experienced neck pain and numbness in both upper limbs immediately after SMT.Her symptoms persisted after 3 d of conservative treatment,and she was admitted to our hospital.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)demonstrated an SEH,extending from C6 to C7.The second case was a 55-year-old man with sudden back pain 1 d after SMT,numbness in both lower limbs,an inability to stand or walk,and difficulty urinating.MRI revealed an SEH,extending from T1 to T3.The third case was a 28-year-old man who suddenly developed symptoms of numbness in both lower limbs 4 h after SMT.He was unable to stand or walk and experienced mild back pain.MRI revealed an SEH,extending from T1 to T2.All three patients underwent surgery after failed conservative treatment.The three cases recovered to ASIA grade E on day 5,1 wk,and day 10 after surgery,respectively.All patients returned to normal after 3 mo of follow-up.CONCLUSION SEH caused by SMT is very rare,and the condition of each patient should be evaluated in full detail before operation.SEH should be diagnosed immediately and actively treated by surgery.

Delayed arterial symptomatic epidural hematoma on the 14th day after posterior lumbar interbody fusion:A case report

BACKGROUND Delayed arterial symptomatic epidural hematoma(SEH)on the 14th day after posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF)is rare but it may lead to severe complications if not identified and treated in a timely manner.After diagnosis of the current case,early surgical removal of the hematoma and strict hemostasis treatment was accomplished.This case report highlights the importance of swift diagnosis and treatment in SEH patients.CASE SUMMARY A 41-year-old male patient with a single-segment lumbar disc herniation underwent left-side PLIF.On the 14th post-operative day,the patient complained of lumbar incision pain with sudden onset accompanied by left limb radiation pain and aggravated cauda equina symptoms.Magnetic resonance imaging examination and a puncture blood draw at the incision site confirmed a delayed arterial SEH.Emergency surgical removal of the hematoma and hemostasis was performed.About 70 mL of hematoma was found in the left incision.Continuous bleeding was found in the anterior branch of the transverse process of the 4th lumbar artery in the muscle area about 2 cm below the transverse process of the 4th lumbar vertebra.A blood jet of about 10 cm in height was observed and bipolar electrocoagulation was used to stop the bleeding.Post-operative lumbar incision pain and left lower limb pain were relieved immediately and gradually disappeared.There was no recurrence during the 12-mo follow-up.CONCLUSION For delayed arterial SEH on the 14th day after PLIF,preventive measures including pre-,intra-and post-operative prevention should be implemented.

Spontaneous acute epidural hematoma secondary to skull and dural metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND The skull and dura are uncommon sites for the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Spontaneous acute epidural hematoma(AEDH)is also very rare.We report here a spontaneous AEDH secondary to skull and dural metastasis of HCC.This case is extremely rare.CASE SUMMARY A 48-year-old male patient with a history of HCC developed unconsciousness spontaneously.Head computed tomography showed"a huge AEDH in the left parietal and occipital region with osteolytic destruction of the left parietal bone.Emergent operation was performed to evacuate the hematoma and resect the lesion.Pathological study revealed that the lesion was the metastases from HCC.The patient died of lung infection,anemia,and liver failure 3 wk after operation.CONCLUSION Spontaneous AEDH caused by hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)dural and skull metastases is extremely rare,the outcome is poor.So,early diagnosis is important.If the level of AFP does not decrease with the shrinkage of intrahepatic lesions after treatment,it is necessary to be alert to the existence of extrahepatic metastases.Since most of the patients had scalp and bone masses,physicians should pay attention to the patient's head palpation.Once a patient with the history of HCC had sudden neurological dysfunction,the possibility of spontaneous AEDH caused by the skull and dura mater metastases should be considered.Since hemorrhage is common in the skull HCC metastases,for patients with spontaneous AEDH accompanied by skull osteolytic lesions,it is also necessary to be alert to the possibility of HCC.For AEDH secondary to HCC metastases,early diagnosis and timely treatment are critical to improve the patients’outcomes.

Retrospective study on progressive epidural hematoma

Objective To study the clinical issues of progressive epidural hematoma ( PEDH ) Methods The incidence,impacts on clinical course and short term outcomes and predictors of PEDH were retrospectively studied. Results PEDH occurred in 20. 3% of the patients. The rates of neurological deterioration and

Resolution of epidural hematoma related to osteoporotic fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty

We are the first to report a case that showed spontaneous resolution of epidural hematoma which was related to a steroid-induced osteoporotic compression fracture.The patient had a painful fracture with an intravertebral cleft at L1 accompanying an epidural hematoma posteriorly.Immediate pain relief was achieved after percutaneous vertebroplasty.Complete resolution of hematoma was noted three months after procedure.We theorized that intravertebral stability after treatment might have played a role in this patient.

Acute spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma associated with intraspinal lymphangioma: A case report

BACKGROUND Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rare neurosurgical emergency.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old healthy woman suffered from complete paraplegia in both legs and loss of all sensation below the xiphoid process.She was diagnosed as acute spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma caused by an intraspinal lymphangioma.The primary lab survey showed all within normal limits.Presence of a posteriorly epidural space-occupying lesion at the T4-T8 level of the spinal canal was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging.A decompressive laminectomy was performed from the T4 to T7 levels at the sixth hour following abrupt onset of complete paraplegia.The lesion was confirmed as lymphangioma.This patient recovered well within one month.CONCLUSION This study reports a case of acute spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma caused by an intraspinal lymphangioma with well recovery after surgical intervention.

Epidural Hematoma after the Use of Subcutaneous Unfractionated Heparin and History of Epidural Tumor

The patient was a 66-year-old male with a history of renal cell carcinoma with metastasis to the L2, L3, and L4 vertebral bodies scheduled for a radical nephrectomy and adrenalectomy. Prior to surgery the patient had undergone 10 radiation treatments for the vertebral metastasis. Patient medications included colace, prednisone, ibuprofen (taken 4 days prior to procedure), sunitinib, hydrocodone, benazepril, nexium, rosuvastatin, allopurinol, and azor. Physical exam prior to surgery was normal with no focal findings. Laboratory values were within normal limits with a platelet count of 286. General anesthesia was planned with a pre-operative thoracic epidural for postoperative analgesia. The epidural was placed at the T9-T10 level without complication. Adequate pain control was present post operatively and the epidural was discontinued on post-operative day 3. At that time the patient was noted to have numbness over the bilateral lower extremities and decreased strength. Heparin 5000 units subcutaneous had been given 12 hours prior to discontinuation of the epidural. The patient was afebrile, hemoglobin was 7, white blood cell count was 9.7, and platelets were 166 at time of epidural removal. Subcutaneous heparin was restarted 6 hours after catheter removal. The anesthesia acute pain service was contacted by the primary service 25 hours after discontinuation of the epidural catheter regarding complaints of persistentbilateral lower extremity weakness and sensory loss. An magnetic resonance image (MRI) revealeda focus posterior to the spinal cord at the T10/T11 interspace likely representing a hematoma. A high intensity T2 signal within the central spinal cord at T10/T11 was also observed;likely a vascular infarct. The patient was immediately scheduled for a T9-T10 laminectomy and evacuation of the epidural hematoma. No significant abnormalities were noted in coagulation studies prior to surgery. The patient was discharged on post-operative day 20 with no neurologic deficits.An epidural hematoma is rare with an estimated occurrence of <1 in 150,000[1]. Issues related to anticoagulation therapy are involved in 25% - 30% of cases. The utilization of three times daily dosed (TID) heparin could have played a role in the development of this complication in the present case. Other contributing factors may have been chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments are quite damaging to bone marrow and may cause severe marrow suppression thereby suppressing the function and number of platelets. Cancer cells are also capable of producing local cell signals which can initiate new blood vessel growth and proliferation[2]. This can also lead to blood vessels that are defective and leaky at the level of the endothelium. Increasing the number of fragile blood vessels may easily predispose this patient to laceration and shearing of blood vessels during epidural placement.

Epidemiological Analysis of Surgically Treated Acute Traumatic Epidural Hematoma

This study is a retrospective analysis of demographic, clinical, radiological and outcome data of surgically treated acute traumatic epidural hematomas. Forty-six consecutive cases of epidural hematomas were operated at the University Hospital Center of Yaoundé, Cameroon, between February 2006 and December 2013. The mean age was 29.56 years and63.04% of patients were between 21 and 30 years. Almost 94% of patients were males. Thirty-five percent of patients were motorcycle riders. Road traffic accident was the cause in 70% of cases. Mean time between head trauma and surgical evacuation was 78 hours. Head trauma was moderate in 52.17%. Initial loss of consciousness was found in 78.26% and lucid interval in 65.23%. Seventy-four percent of patients had signs of intracranial hypertension on admission, 35% had at least one neurologic focal sign and 50% had a scalp wound. Eight patients (17.39%) presented with unilateral or bilateral mydriasis. On computed tomography, the hematoma was on the left side in 60.86% of patients and frontal-parietal location was the most frequent. Computed tomography showed mass effect in 97.82% of patients. The most frequent surgical procedure was craniotomy. Six (13.04%) patients died, but 82.60% recovered fully (GOS 5). In Cameroon, traumatic acute epidural hematoma affects primarily healthy young men in their twenties and thirties. Road traffic accidents are the main etiology. Most patients had moderate head trauma and presented with intracranial hypertension. Early surgery is rarely done. Nevertheless, even with delayed surgery, most patients have good outcome.

Post traumatic dural sinus thrombosis following epidural hematoma: Literature review and case report

Dural sinus thrombosis following a head trauma is a rare condition,described in literature along with the lack of consensus regarding diagnosis and management.We present a case of a fifty-year-old man with a head injury and combined supratentorial-subtentorial epidural hematoma who was treated conservatively through the administration of low molecular weight heparin.The diagnosis and management of this condition are discussed based on a literature review.The early diagnosis may prevent potentially treatable poor outcomes.

Intrathecal hematoma and sacral radiculitis following repeat epidural blood patch

Postdural puncture headache(PDPH)is an incapacitating complication that can occur following spinal anesthesia and with inadvertent dural puncture during epidural anesthesia.We present a case of a 32-year-old G2 P1 female who was admitted for induction of labor and received epidural catheter placement for analgesia.After an inadvertent dural puncture and development of a PDPH,the patient was offered conservative measures for the first 48 hours without improvement.An epidural blood patch(EBP)was placed achieving only moderate relief.Two days later,a second EBP was performed and the patient developed severe back pain which radiated bilaterally to her buttocks.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)demonstrated the presence of blood in the intrathecal space.This could be the cause of sacral radiculitis,an uncommon complication of an EBP.This suggests that EBPs could potentially cause neurologic symptoms which may be more common than people previously thought.As complicated outcomes have followed both conservative and aggressive management,MRI can be an early diagnostic tool in such cases and a multidisciplinary approach should be taken.

Early Diagnosis of Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma with Echo-Planar Gradient-Echo T2*-Weighted MR Imaging

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare idiopathic condition that leads to the acute onset of neurological deficits, which can have catastrophic consequences if not recognized early. It is important to make an early precise diagnosis. Spinal epidural hematoma has been increasingly recognized since the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, T1- and T2-weighted gradient-echo sequences are relatively less sensitive to the magnetic susceptibility effects of hemorrhage. Echo-planar gradient-echo T2*-weighted MR imaging (T2* MRI) is sensitive to these magnetic susceptibility effects and is commonly used for the detection of hemorrhage. We reported that the case of a 76-year-old man who presented with tetra paresis had an early diagnosis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma early diagnosed by T2* MRI.

Subdural Hematoma and Postdural Puncture Headache from Intrathecal Pump Placement Resolved with Lumbar Epidural Blood Patch

Intrathecal drug delivery systems are commonly used in the management of chronic pain, cancer pain and neuromuscular disorders with muscle spasticity. The complications associated with in-trathecal pump placement include persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, hygroma, meningitis, and granuloma formation. A severe persistent CSF leak may cause postdural puncture headache along with acute intracranial subdural hematoma, which can be potentially life threatening. Surgical exploration with dural repair is required to treat this severe complication when conservative treatments fail. We present a case report of severe persistent CSF leak after intrathecal pump revision that resulted in a subdural hematoma and postdural puncture headache. In this case, an epidural blood patch was performed using epidural catheter under fluoroscopic guidance to target the site of CSF leak and to avoid damaging the intrathecal catheter. This patient’s headache was resolved and intrathecal catheter remained intact after this blood patch.

Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma Causing Paraplegia: A Case Report

A spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma without any identified etiology is a very rare entity. We report here a 44 years old woman admitted within our department for 04 days of severe back pain complicated rapidly of bilateral lower-limbs weakness and urinary retention. Neurological examination found a complete paraplegia (0/5 stergh), with incomplete sensory deficit below the T-10 level, bowel and bladder dysfunction, decreased deep and superficial reflex. MRI with different sequences showed a large epidural mass lesion with slightly high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and heterogeneous low signal intensity on T2-weighted images from T11 to L1 suggesting an epidural hematoma. She underwent an urgent total laminectomy from T11 to L1 following by a complete removal of a large dark and compact epidural hematoma compressing the spinal cord. Operatively, there’s no sign suggesting an AVM. Postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged ten days after surgery with complete recovery.

Outcome of Surgically Treated Acute Traumatic Epidural Hematomas Based on the Glasgow Coma Scale

This study was a retrospective analysis of outcome of surgically treated acute traumatic epidural hematomas based on the Glasgow coma scale. The series enrolled forty-six consecutive cases of acute traumatic epidural hematomas. The mean age of patients was 29.56 years and 63.04% of the patients were between 21 and 30 years of age. Forty-tree out of 46 (93.47%) of the patients were males. Road traffic crash was the main mode of injury. The severity of the traumatic brain injury was classified according to the Glasgow coma scale score at admission. The injury was mild or moderate in 35 (76.08%) cases and severe in 11. Eight patients (17.39%) presented with pupillary abnormalities. The computed tomography scanning of the head has objectivized the epidural hematoma in all patients and has shown a mass effect with midline shift in all but one case (45/46). The most frequent surgical procedure done was craniotomy. Six (13.04%) patients died (GOS 1), but 38 (82.60%) recovered fully (GOS 5) and two (04.34%) were disabled but independent (GOS 4). The Glasgow coma score at admission was very predictive for good or poor outcome, since all patients but one who died and all survivors who were disabled were comatose at admission (GCS ≤ 8).

Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematoma Mimicking Stroke: A New Perspective on Diagnosis and Treatment

Objective: The authors report an extremely rare case of stroke-mimicking, spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma treated with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). Case Report: We report the case of a 69-year-old female presenting with left-sided hemiparesis of the arm and leg. She was administered by TPA because she was thought to have an ischemic stroke and intracranial CT showed no hemorrhage. However, her neurological condition continued to decline, and MRI of her cervical spine revealed a large spontaneous epidural hematoma. Subsequently, the patient underwent emergency surgery. Conclusions: TPA administration to spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) patients is dangerous. Because cervical epidural hematomas can mimic stroke, the attending medical staff needs to exercise vigilance in diagnosis. In addition to the head, the spine should also be scanned prior to TPA administration.

Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematomas in Mild Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Patients：An Analysis of 8 Cases

Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoms(SCEH) complicated with mild cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM) is a rare but emerging condition.Early diagnosis and treatment are important for good outcomes.This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of this condition and to discuss the optimal treatment.The clinical data from 8 patients with SCEH plus CSM who were divided into two groups by treatment methods were retrospectively analyzed.The neurological function of the patients was assessed by Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA) score before and after the surgical operations.Other factors were reviewed with medical records.Among them,4 out of the 8 patients underwent emergency surgery,and the rest 3 patients experienced an initial conservative treatment and ultimately received a laminectomy.We found that the Frankel Scale scores in most of the surgical patients were increased after surgery(6/7,85.7%).However,the JOA scores at the 6th month after onset were even lower than those before onset in 3 of the operative cases,and those in the patients who were given conservative treatment showed no significant change.It was concluded that some patients with SCEH and CSM treated with a timely operation may obtain relief from their previous CSM symptoms.However,the final neurological deficits of these patients were closely related to the progressive interval which refers to the hours between the initial onset and the occurrence of new neurological deficits or mild CSM deterioration,no matter whether they accept the operation.We found the crucial progressive interval may be in 9 h.Early MRI and prompt neurosurgical intervention are also important to improve the neurological deficits.

Epidural blood patch for spontaneous intracranial hypotension with subdural hematoma: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)leakage at C1/2 in spontaneous intracranial hypotension(SIH)is rare.Subdural hematoma(SDH),a serious complication of SIH,may lead to neurological deficits.This report presents a case of SDH after spontaneous C1/2 CSF leakage,which was treated with a targeted epidural blood patch(EBP).CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old man with no history of trauma was admitted to our hospital with orthostatic headache,nausea,and vomiting.Brain computed tomography imaging revealed bilateral,subacute to chronic SDH.Brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings were SDH with dural enhancement in the bilateral cerebral convexity and posterior fossa and mild sagging,suggesting SIH.Although the patient underwent burr hole trephination,the patient’s orthostatic headache was aggravated.MR myelography led to a suspicion of CSF leakage at C1/2.Therefore,we performed a targeted cervical EBP using an epidural catheter under fluoroscopic guidance.At 5 d after EBP,a follow-up MR myelography revealed a decrease in the interval size of the CSF collected.Although his symptoms improved,the patient still complained of headaches;therefore,we repeated the targeted cervical EBP 6 d after the initial EBP.Subsequently,his headache had almost disappeared on the 8th day after the repeated EBP.CONCLUSION Targeted EBP is an effective treatment for SDH in patients with SIH due to CSF leakage at C1/2.