A Traumatic Spinal Epidural Haematoma in a Child With Magnetic Resonance and Computed Tomography Findings: A Case Report

Abstract

Spinal epidural haematomas most commonly occur secondary to neoplasms, arteriovenous malformations, epidural haemangiomas, coagulopathies and infections. But traumatic spinal epidural haematoma is an extremely rare entity which leads to major neurological conditions such as hemiparesis, paraparesis, quadriparesis and paraplegia. In this report we present the non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of a paediatric case of a traumatic spinal epidural haematoma extending from the 3rd cervical to the 10th thoracic vertebral level, which was associated with multiple vertebral body fractures due to a high-energy trauma. To the best of our knowledge, this case had the longest caudocranially spreading, traumatic spinal epidural haematoma detected in children, compared to previous reports in the literature. A spinal epidural haematoma is a challenge for patients, especially those with a non-traumatic origin. For this reason, the spinal epidural space must be properly examined for the presence of haematomas on the CT and MR images in patients with trauma.