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Chronic traumatic spinal epidural hematoma in a child
Hong Bo Sim1, Young Cheol Weon, Jun Bum Park
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Dong-gu, Ulsan, Korea.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|July 27, 2010
Summary
Chronic traumatic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) in children is rare and challenging to diagnose. Early MRI diagnosis and surgical decompression can lead to complete recovery without neurological deficits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) causes neurological deficits via spinal cord compression.
- Nontraumatic and acute SEH are more commonly reported.
- Traumatic SEH in children is rare and difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old boy presented with chronic symptoms of axillary pain and progressive weakness following a fall.
- Clinical presentation included inability to stand or hold a spoon.
- MRI revealed C5-C7 epidural hematomas with characteristic signal intensities on T1 and T2 weighted images.
Findings:
- This case represents the first reported instance of chronic traumatic SEH in a pediatric patient.
- Surgical decompression resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.
- No neurological sequelae were observed post-operatively.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering MRI in children with unexplained pain and motor weakness.
- Suggests prompt surgical intervention for chronic traumatic SEH in children can achieve excellent outcomes.
- Emphasizes the need for increased awareness of rare pediatric neurosurgical conditions.
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