[Spinal hematomas: the spinal apoplexy]. / Hematomas espinales: la apoplejía espinal.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal haematomas (SH) are a rare pathology. They can produce a rapid and irreversible neurological deterioration. METHOD: In this retrospective study, we review 8 cases of SH treated in our centre over the last five years. Data collected were: age, sex, predisposing factors, clinical status, radiological features, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Five patients were female and three male. Age ranged between 13 and 81 years. Five patients were hypertensive. Four had a coagulation disorder. In three patients SH occurred after physical effort. One case appeared after a lumbar puncture and another was secondary to intramedullary cavernous angioma. All patients presented with pain followed by neurological symptoms. Four cases were epidural, two subdural and two were intramedullary. All epidural SH and one subdural SH, were located dorsal to medulla. Five patients were operated on due to progressive neurological deterioration. Only one of them showed neurological improvement. Patients who were not operated on, had a better neurological status and they improved spontaneously. Two of them were discharged without neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: There is controversy over the physiopathology of SH. The triggering mechanisms are unknown. The vessel (artery or vein) and the anatomical compartment in which SH arise are also unknown. Prompt diagnosis and urgent surgical treatment are needed when the patient has neurological symptoms. In these cases, the most important prognostic factor is the preoperative neurological status.

Hematomas espinales: la apoplejía espinal / Spinal hematomas: the spinal apoplexy

Introducción: Los hematomas espinales (HE) son una afección muy poco frecuente, que puede causar un deterioro neurológico rápido e irreversible. Pacientes y método: Presentamos un estudio retrospectivo con 8 casos de HE tratados en nuestro servicio en los últimos 5 años. Se analizaron: edad, sexo, factores predisponentes, situación clínica, características radiológicas, tratamiento y evolución. Resultados: Los pacientes eran 5 mujeres y 3 varones. Las edades oscilaron entre 13 y 81 años. Cinco pacientes eran hipertensos; 4 presentaban alteraciones de la coagulación; en 3, el hematoma apareció en relación con un esfuerzo físico; en 1, tras una punción lumbar y en 1 fue secundario a un cavernoma intramedular. El inicio clínico fue en todos los casos con dolor, seguido de la instauración de síntomas neurológicos. Cuatro eran epidurales, dos subdurales y dos intramedulares. Todos los HE epidurales y uno subdural eran posteriores a la médula espinal. Cinco pacientes fueron intervenidos por deterioro neurológico progresivo. Sólo 1 presentó mejoría clínica. Los casos no intervenidos estaban en mejor situación neurológica y mejoraron espontáneamente, y 2 de ellos fueron dados de alta sin secuelas. Conclusiones: Los HE son procesos de fisiopatología controvertida. Se desconocen los mecanismos que los desencadenan, así como los vasos (arteriales o venosos) y el compartimento anatómico en que se originan. Se precisa un diagnóstico precoz y un tratamiento quirúrgico urgente cuando hay síntomas neurológicos progresivos. En estos casos, el factor pronóstico más importante es el estado neurológico preoperatorio (AU)

Introduction: Spinal haematomas (SH) are a rare pathology. They can produce a rapid and irreversible neurological deterioration. Method: In this retrospective study, we review 8 cases of SH treated in our centre over the last five years. Data collected were: age, sex, predisposing factors, clinical status, radiological features, treatment and outcome. Results: Five patients were female and three male. Age ranged between 13 and 81 years. Five patients were hypertensive. Four had a coagulation disorder. In three patients SH occurred after physical effort. One case appeared after a lumbar puncture and another was secondary to intramedullary cavernous angioma. All patients presented with pain followed by neurological symptoms. Four cases were epidural, two subdural and two were intramedullary. All epidural SH and one subdural SH, were located dorsal to medulla. Five patients were operated on due to progressive neurological deterioration. Only one of them showed neurological improvement. Patients who were not operated on, had a better neurological status and they improved spontaneously. Two of them were discharged without neurological symptoms. Conclusions: There is controversy over the physiopathology of SH. The triggering mechanisms are unknown. The vessel (artery or vein) and the anatomical compartment in which SH arise are also unknown. Prompt diagnosis and urgent surgical treatment are needed when the patient has neurological symptoms. In these cases, the most important prognostic factor is the preoperative neurological status (AU)

Hematoma subdural espinal espontáneo / Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma

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