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Case Reports
. 2022 Mar;61(1):149-152.
doi: 10.20471/acc.2022.61.01.19.

SPINAL SUBDURAL HEMATOMA ASSOCIATED WITH LUMBAR PUNCTURE - A CASE REPORT

Tomislav Paun  1 , Iris Zavoreo  2 , Miljenka-Jelena Jurašić  2 , Ana Jadrijević Tomas  2 , Vanja Bašić Kes  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

SPINAL SUBDURAL HEMATOMA ASSOCIATED WITH LUMBAR PUNCTURE - A CASE REPORT

Tomislav Paun et al. Acta Clin Croat. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Spinal subdural hematoma caused by lumbar puncture is a rare state of acute blood clot in spinal subdural space, and in some cases, it can be the cause of local compression and consecutive neurological symptoms. We present a 36-year-old female patient who was hospitalized due to persistent headache despite pharmacological therapy. Therefore, we performed lumbar puncture in order to measure intracranial pressure and evaluate cerebrospinal fluid. After lumbar puncture, the patient was complaining of pain in the lumbar region. Emergency magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral (LS) region was performed to show acute subdural hematoma of up to 7.3 mm in the dorsal part of the spinal canal at the level of L1 vertebra to the inferior endplate of L4 vertebra. Repeat LS MRI after 3 hours showed unchanged finding. The patient reported gradual regression of pain in the LS region over the next few days, therefore conservative treatment was applied. Patients with a previously known blood clotting disorder and patients on anticoagulation therapy have worse outcome as compared with patients without such disorders. During treatment, it is necessary to monitor patient clinical state and consider the need of surgical treatment.

Keywords: Complications; Lumbar puncture; Subdural hematoma.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Sagittal T1-weighted LS MRI scan shows acute spinal subdural hematoma from vertebral body L1 to L4.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sagittal T2-weighted LS MRI scan shows acute spinal subdural hematoma from vertebral body L1 to L4.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Axial T1-weighted LS MRI scan shows acute spinal subdural hematoma at the level of L2 vertebral body.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
T2-weighted LS MRI scan shows acute spinal subdural hematoma at the level of L2 vertebral body.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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