Traumatic extradural lumbar haematoma due to a pathological metastatic vertebral body fracture L3

• Main Authors: Daniel Balasa, Gabriela Butoi, Radu Baz, Anca Hancu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Academic Publishing 2016-06-01
• Series: Romanian Neurosurgery
• Subjects: spinal extradural haematoma; pathological vertebral fracture
• Online Access: https://www.journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/roneurosurgery/article/view/905

Spinal epidural haematoma (SEH) is a rare entity. We present the case of a 45 years old patient with lumbar epidural hematoma produced by a L3 vertebral tumoral (metastatic) fracture. Neurological status: cauda equina syndrome with sphincterian deficits, incomplete paraplegia (Frankel C), with neurological level L1. Emergency surgery was performed (L3-L2-bilateral laminectomy, L1 left laminectomy, posterior stabilization L2-L4 by titan screws) offering the possibility to progressive motor, sensitive and sphincterian deficites recovery. Abbreviations: Computer Tomography -CT, Magnetic resonance Imaging-MRI, Spinal epidural haematoma-SEH, Visual analogue scale of pain-VAS. Conclusion: We present a patient with a compressive subacute extradural haematoma, due to a traumatic fracture on a vertebral metastatic tumor who produced cauda equina syndrome. Surgical emergency intervention was mandatory for a good neurological outcome.