Nontraumatic spinal epidural hematoma associated with clopidogrel

Abstract

A 73-year-old female treated with clopidogrel for vascular disease presented with sudden onset of back pain, urinary retention and paraplegia. MRI scans demonstrated a thoracolumbar epidural hematoma and the patient underwent emergency laminectomy for evacuation of the hematoma. A possible causal link between clopidogrel and occurrence of the hemorrhage is discussed and the literature on spontaneous spinal hematomas is reviewed.