A case of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma associated with cervical spondylosis
Sannoh, N.; Kubokura, T.; Nishimura, T.; Koyama, S.; Tsubone, K.
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery 16(5 Suppl): 539-543
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-2603 PMID: 3399009 Document Number: 323411
A case of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma associated with long-term cervical spondylosis is presented. A 69-year-old man was admitted with a 3-day history of sudden onset of severe neck pain radiating to both upper extremities followed by impossibility in standing. Neurological examination on admission revealed paralysis below C 7, total anesthesia below the T 4 level and urinary incontinence. Initially, he was diagnosed as cervical cord injury caused by a violet fall. Subsequently, skeletal traction with tongs of the Crutchfield design was carried out. Nevertheless, he developed spinal shock 6 days after admission. A metrizamide myelogram followed by CT scanning 5 days after admission demonstrated an extradural isodensity mass displacing dura forward. The mass lesion was confirmed as spontaneous epidural hematoma by laminectomy from C 4 to C 7. Sudden onset of neck pain with radiation into both upper extremities should be differentiated cervical epidural hematoma from other cervical spinal lesions. Metrizamide CT is helpful to diagnose cervical epidural hematoma.