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Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma-unusual cause of torticollis in a child

S V S Soundappan1, Balsam Darwish, Raymond Chaseling

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|December 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma is rare in children, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms. Delayed diagnosis in infants can lead to neurological deficits, highlighting the need for prompt evaluation of neck trauma symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Trauma Surgery

Background:

  • Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma (TSEH) is an uncommon pediatric condition.
  • Nonspecific presentations can delay diagnosis and treatment.

Observation:

  • An infant developed TSEH following a minor neck injury.
  • Symptoms included irritability and torticollis in an afebrile child.
  • Delayed diagnosis resulted in a minor neurological deficit at follow-up.

Findings:

  • TSEH in infants can result from seemingly minor trauma.
  • Early recognition of nonspecific symptoms is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Prompt diagnosis and surgical decompression are essential to prevent severe outcomes.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider spinal cord compression in infants with neck trauma, irritability, and torticollis.
  • Early imaging (e.g., MRI) is vital for diagnosing TSEH.
  • Timely surgical decompression can significantly reduce morbidity associated with pediatric TSEH.

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