Lumbosciatic pain and coagulopathies

Three cases of nerve compression causing lumbosciatic pain and/or cruralgia due to hematoma secondary to coagulopathies of varying etiology are described. The cases involved a multiple nerve root syndrome of the cauda equina due to extradural hematoma in coagulopathy resulting from the administration of dicumarol drugs, a neuropathy of the crural nerve caused by hematoma of the iliopsoas muscle in hemophilia B, and a neuropathy of the sciatic nerve caused by hematoma in the gluteus and thigh in coagulopathy resulting from the administration of dicumarol drugs. In all three of the cases the clinical picture resembled that of lumbar disc herniation, but a careful evaluation of each patient's history, objective picture, and laboratory and radiological testing allowed us to make a correct diagnosis. Medical therapy is based on the correction of the coagulopathy by means of suitable drugs or hemoderivates. Surgical treatment is reserved for the most severe cases.