Spontaneous ventral spinal epidural hematoma in a child: A case report and review of literature

Introduction

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is rare in children. It is usually confined to the dorsal epidural space. Ventral SSEH is rarer, with only four cases reported until date.[123] Etiological factors for spinal epidural hematoma are tumors, anticoagulant therapy, coagulopathy, hypertension, arteriovenous malformations, and trauma. Cases without known predisposing factors are known to be spontaneous. Cases with minor trauma are also described as spontaneous.[45] Most common presentation is sudden back or neck pain followed by a motor or sensory dysfunction with or without urinary retention. Complete neurological recovery is possible with early diagnosis and urgent surgery while delay in the treatment of this condition causes permanent neurological deficit. We are reporting one such rare case in a child.

Case Report

A previously healthy 14-year-old boy was admitted with a 15-day history of back pain, urinary retention, and weakness of both lower limbs. The patient noted a rapid increase of his symptoms after 2 days with complete loss of power and sensation in lower limbs. The patient was admitted in some local hospital and came to us after 2 weeks of onset of symptoms. There was no history of spinal trauma, systemic disease, anticoagulant usage, or coagulopathy. Neurological examination revealed bilateral sensory disturbance of all modalities below the level of fourth dorsal vertebrae level and spastic paraplegia. Routine investigations and coagulation profile were normal. T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images revealed a mass lesion suggesting an epidural hematoma, extending from dorsal vertebrae D1 to dorsal vertebrae D6, localized in the ventral spinal epidural space. There were no signs suggestive of vascular malformations [Figure 1]. The patient was operated on soon after admission. Fourth and fifth dorsal laminectomy with left partial facetectomy was performed, and an epidural clot was totally removed using microneurosurgical technique. During surgery, no vascular abnormality was observed, but no dural pulsation was evident at the end of the procedure. No motor and sensory improvement was achieved postoperatively. An MR sean of the spine was performed 10 days after the operation which showed complete removal of hematoma [Figure 2]. The patient was discharged with the same neurological deficit at the 10^th postoperative day.

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Figure 1

(a) T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging dorsal spine sagittal cuts, (b) T2-weighted sagittal cuts, (c and d) T2-weighted axial cuts showing a ventral spinal epidural hematoma extending from D1 to D6 vertebra and displacing and compressing the cord posteriorly

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Figure 2

(a and b) T2-weighted postoperative magnetic resonance imaging dorsal spine sagittal cuts, (c and d) T2-weighted axial cuts showing laminectomy defect with complete evacuation of ventral epidural hematoma

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Discussion

SSEH is an idiopathic accumulation of blood in the vertebral epidural space. Spinal epidural hematomas are extremely rare in children. The annual incidence of SSEH is almost 0.1/100,000 patients in the general population. This is while this incidence is significantly lower in the pediatric population.[6] It is usually confined to the dorsal epidural space. Ventral SSEH, as our case, is even rarer with only four previous cases reported in the literature.[123]

Cervicothoracic region is the most common location in children.[2] The most common clinical presentation is sudden back or neck pain followed by motor and sensory dysfunction with or without urinary retention. Signs of progressive spinal cord compression usually occur in hours. The neurologic deficits are dependent to the localization of hematoma, Horner or Brown-Sequard syndromes may be noted. The progression of the symptomatology and clinical signs is usually very rapid, as in our case, although slower progression over a few days has also been reported.[7]

Most common causes of spinal epidural hematoma are the use of anticoagulants,[8] coagulopathies (hemophilia[9] and leukemia), and procedures such as a spinal tap or epidural anesthesia.[10] Trauma is rare in children with few cases of it being described.[11] Cases without known predisposing factors are known to be spontaneous. Cases with minor trauma are also described as spontaneous.[45]

Most authors have contended that SSEH arises from epidural venous plexus in the spinal epidural space. Because of fluctuations in intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressures after exercise or other maneuvers, reversal of blood flow may induce rupture of a delicate vein in the valveless epidural plexus. Other researchers have proposed the spinal epidural arteries as a source of hemorrhage.[212]

Previously myelography and computerized tomography (CT) were the diagnostic methods for SSEH. Myelography demonstrates classical extradural block image. CT findings are similar to intracranial epidural hematoma showing hyperdense lenticular collection.[13] MR imaging is the best examination for diagnosis and follow-up.[1415] Sagittal sections disclose a mass located in posterior epidural space. It is clearly outlined with tapering superior and inferior margins. The dura mater is visualized as curvilinear low signal, separating the hematoma from the cord. The hematoma is isointense or slightly hyperintense on T1-weighted images and heterogeneous on T2-weighted images within 24 h of onset. Later, hematoma gives a high signal on both T1- and T2-weighted sequences. In the absence of any signs suggestive of vascular malformation on MR imaging, preoperative angiography is not essential and need not delay the surgical procedure, because the timing of the surgery, together with the preoperative clinical state, determines the quality of the clinical result.[16]

Urgent surgical decompression and evacuation of the epidural hematoma are the treatment of choice. Posteriorly placed hematoma can be easily removed by doing laminectomy but anteriorly placed hematoma needs good exposure and microneurosurgical techniques to prevent retraction injury to the cord. Partial facetectomy can be done in dorsal spine to enhance exposure, and lateral corridor can be used to prevent thecal sac retraction. Complete and partial neurological recovery has been described in approximately 50% and 44% of the patients, respectively.[17] Recovery was significantly better when decompression was performed within

<36 h of the onset of the neurological deficit. There appear to be no factors which promote conservative treatment in SSEH. In the majority of cases with SSEH, the mainstay of treatment will remain surgical decompression of the neural structures and removal of the hematoma. The decision for conservative treatment has to be based on the severity of the neurological deficit and on the clinical course.[18]

Conclusion

SSEH is extremely rare in children. It is a surgical emergency. Prognosis of the patient with SSEH depends on the severity of the neurologic deficit on admission and interval from onset of initial symptom to surgery. Early diagnosis and prompt surgery are crucial to achieve the best neurological outcome and delay in the diagnosis and treatment may cause permanent neurologic deficit.