Traumatic thoracic spine intramedullary hemorrhage: Rare spinal cord injury

• Main Authors: Nitesh Gahlot, Abhay Elhence
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Indian Spine Journal
• Subjects: hematomyelia; intramedullary bleeding; spinal cord; thoracic hematomyelia; traumatic hematomyelia
• Online Access: http://www.isjonline.com/article.asp?issn=2589-5079;year=2020;volume=3;issue=1;spage=123;epage=126;aulast=Gahlot

The aim of this study was to report a rare case of post-traumatic thoracic spine intramedullary bleeding associated with spine fracture in the absence of compression due to fracture fragments on spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed thrombus formation inside the spinal cord with obliteration of neural elements. The patient was managed non-operatively and improved. Intramedullary hemorrhage in spinal cord is a rare cause of neurological deficit in post-traumatic cases and only a handful cases have been reported in the literature, giving no guidance regarding treatment of the condition. Conservative management can be considered a viable treatment option for intramedullary bleeds, especially in cases where there is no bony cord compression.