Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in patients treated with acenocumarol: A case study

Abstract

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is an uncommon condition and a neurological emergency. The clinical presentation of this type of hematoma is very variable, ranging from a backache up to a quadriplegia, according to the severity and the site of compression. Here, we discuss the clinical case of a 71-year-old patient with heart problems, under previous treatment with acenocumarol, that suffered a spontaneous epidural hematoma. The patient, previously asymptomatic, presented, sudden cervical pain when he bent over, followed by weakness in the lower and the upper limbs. Due to the clinical suspicion, an emergency MRI was performed, showing an epidural hematoma extending from C4 to T8. Early diagnosis and decompressive treatment are mandatory to minimize permanent neurological damage.

Keywords

• Hematoma espinal espontáneo
• acenocumarol
• hemilaminectomía descompresiva. Spontaneous spinal hematoma
• acenocumarol
• decompressive hemilaminectomy.