Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: report of seven cases

From July 1984 to June 1990, seven cases of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) were studied. The common clinical pictures in these cases were rather typical with an apoplectic onset of severe spinal pain followed in hours (median: four hours) by signs of progressive spinal cord compression. All cases underwent myelography and computed tomographic (CT)-myelographic studies which showed in all cases a block by a posterior extradural lesion in the spinal column; however, the correct diagnosis of SSEH was made preoperatively in only three cases. The neurologic deficits prior to surgery were complete or nearly complete paraplegia in five cases and a high grade of paraparesis in the other two. The median interval of paralysis or paresis before surgery was 28 hours. The final outcome was evaluated by the grade of functional recovery, and the following were found to be the favorable factors: 1) incomplete preoperative neurologic deficits; 2) a slow course of clinical progression, especially a long duration of pain before the onset of paralysis; 3) no delay in surgery; 4) involvement of short spinal segments; and 5) lumbosacral lesions. Particular emphasis is made on early diagnosis and prompt surgery for a favorable outcome.