Spontaneous spinal epidural hematom aand spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma:report of six cases / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the etiology,clinical presentation,MR images,treatment and prog-nosis of spontaneous spinal epidural and subdural hematoma.Methods From1995to2002,6cases diag-nosed as spontaneous spinal epidural and subdural hematoma were reviewed retrospectively.All of the pa-tients were males aging from30to68years with an average of 47years.The onset was acute while the pa-tients were in resting or light activity without prior history of any infection,administration of drugs or trau-ma.One patient had the history of hypertension,and another one was found to have diabetes after admission.The clinical characteristics were sudden pain involving neck,shoulder,chest and back,then dysfunction of motion and sensation of extremities and sphincter within few minutes.4cases of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma were located at T 5~6 ,T 2~4 ,C 4~5 and C 6 ~T 1 respectively,and2cases of spontaneous spinal subdu ral hematoma at C 7 ~T 1 and C 7 ~T 2 respectively.Results All cases were proved with surgery and pathology.MR imaging showed occupying mass in the posterior or posteriolateral region inside the spinal canal.T 1 -weighted imaging was most useful owing to its typical signal changes with the hematoma.T 2 -weighted gra-dient echo sequence was capable to identify epidural and subdural spinal hematoma.Total laminectomy and hematoma debridement were performed.The outcome was closely related to the interval between the onset and surgery.The patients were followed up from6to18months with an average of 10months.All cases showed no significant improvement of spinal cord function except 5cases with incomplete recovery of sphincter function.Conclusion Spontaneous spinal epidural and subdural hematoma are rare entities.MRI is a most helpful diagnostic tool for this disorder.It should be stressed that early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are of great importance for prognosis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma.