Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma causing brown-sequard syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma (SCEH) is an uncommon condition with diverse causes.
• Delayed diagnosis and treatment of SCEH can lead to permanent neurological damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of Brown-Sequard syndrome caused by SCEH.
• To emphasize the importance of timely diagnosis and surgical intervention for SCEH.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 59-year-old female with misdiagnosed neurological deficits.
• Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify the epidural hematoma.
• Surgical evacuation of the hematoma.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with symptoms initially mistaken for a cerebrovascular accident.
• Cervical MRI confirmed an epidural hematoma from C3 to C6.
• Postoperative surgical evacuation resulted in complete neurological function restoration.

Conclusions:

• Early and accurate diagnosis, including thorough history taking and MRI, is critical for SCEH.
• Prompt surgical decompression significantly impacts patient outcomes in SCEH.
• Timeliness of intervention is the primary determinant of neurologic recovery in SCEH.