Pain in the back after a brain trauma—The revelation of a spinal subdural hematoma: A case report with a literature review

Abstract

Traumatic spinal subdural hematoma is a rare condition mostly favored by an anticoagulation therapy, a traumatic lumbar puncture, a hematologic disease, or an epidural anesthesia. This pathological condition can be subtle or be at the origin of a compression of the spinal cord and the rootlets resulting in an irreversible damage if an emergent surgery is not performed. We report the case of a 45-year-old man who has been a victim of a brain trauma which resulted in a cerebral edema. A week later, the patient came to the emergency department for disabling abdominal pain, predominant in the back. An abdominal computed tomography was performed and showed an incidentally spontaneous hyperdensity in the spinal cord, which raised the suspicion of a spinal hematoma that has been confirmed through spine magnetic resonance imaging. In this case, we discuss the different subtypes of spinal hematoma. We recall the main differential diagnoses to help setting an accurate diagnosis and to not delay the adequate therapy that is most of the time emergent when indicated.