Spontaneous Spinal Haemorrhage as a Complication of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Spinal cord haematoma, or haematomyelia, is a rare condition caused by several unusual disease processes. Traumatic events, such as spinal cord injury and surgery or procedures involving the spinal cord, are the most important causes of spinal cord haematoma. Rarely, it is associated with anticoagul...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ana Patricia Castanheira Gomes, Eduardo Cernadas, Juliana Sá, Helena Brito, Ricardo Costa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMC MEDIA SRL 2018-12-01
Series:European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/887
Description
Summary:Spinal cord haematoma, or haematomyelia, is a rare condition caused by several unusual disease processes. Traumatic events, such as spinal cord injury and surgery or procedures involving the spinal cord, are the most important causes of spinal cord haematoma. Rarely, it is associated with anticoagulation therapy. Irrespective of cause, spinal cord haematoma is considered a neurosurgical emergency and must be treated promptly in order to prevent neurological sequelae. The authors describe the case of a 69-year-old patient taking warfarin in the therapeutic range for a mechanic mitral valve, who developed chest pain with cervical and dorsal radiation, and experienced sudden paraparesis of the limbs. A CT of the spine confirmed haematomyelia. A high index of suspicion, prompt recognition and immediate intervention are essential to prevent major morbidity and mortality from intraspinal haemorrhage.
ISSN:2284-2594