[Non traumatic spinal epidural hematomas. Report of twenty cases. Review of the literature and outcome aspects]

Abstract

Background and purpose: We report a personal series of 20 non traumatic spinal epidural hematomas and study outcome aspects with a review of data in the literature.

Method: Clinical presentation of non-traumatic spinal epidural hematomas observed between January 1980 and December 1998 was acute in 17 cases (85%) and chronic in 3 (15%). Symptoms were spinal and/or radicular pain, sensorimotor and sphincter dysfunction. Radiological evaluation consisted in myelography (n=6), myelography-CT scan (n=5), CT scan (n=1) and MRI (n=9). Patients underwent surgery in 15 cases, between 8 hours and 2 months after the first symptoms. All our patients were clinically reevaluated between 2 and 4 months after either surgery or admission for cases of spontaneous resolution.

Results: Good results (complete neurological resolution or moderate sequelae) were observed in 14 patients (70%). A partial recovery with major persistent neurological impairment was observed in 1 patient (5%), an initial persistent neurological impairment in 1 (5%). Three patients (15%) died and 1 (5%) was lost to follow-up. Complete spontaneous resolution were observed in four patients.

Conclusion: Postsurgical outcome is mainly related to the preoperative neurological impairment, the duration of spinal cord compression and the time interval between the onset of symptoms and maximal deficit. A prompt laminectomy is necessary except in the cases where a spontaneous resolution can be expected from the early neurological course.