Acute spinal hematoma during pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous spinal subdural-epidural hematoma during pregnancy is rare. Case Description: A 29-year-old gravida II patient experienced the onset of vomiting, headache, and progressive paraparesis. The initial non-contrast brain computed tomography and coagulation profiles were negative. The next day, the spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a C7–T4 epidural hematoma; contrast studies revealed no accompanying vascular lesions. On day 3, she underwent a cesarean delivery followed by a C3–T1 laminectomy. Her sensory and sphincteric function returned on postoperative day 2, but at 6 postoperative months, she continued to exhibit a 3/5 paraparesis. Conclusion: Pregnant patients with acute paraparesis should undergo STAT MRI screening of the spine to look for epidural/subdural hematomas.