| Article Access Statistics | | | Viewed | 5854 | | | Printed | 193 | | | Emailed | 2 | | | PDF Downloaded | 191 | | | Comments | [Add] | | | Cited by others | 10 | | |
|
Click on image for details.
|
|
| LETTER TO EDITOR |
|
|
|
| Year : 2006 | Volume
: 54
| Issue : 1 | Page : 107-108 |
Cervical spinal epidural hematoma with acute Brown-Sιquard presentation
R Neetu1, MS Chandra2, M Rashmi2
1 Departments of Neurology, Rungta Hospital, D-694, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur - 302 017, India
2 Departments of Medicine, Rungta Hospital, D-694, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur - 302 017, India
Correspondence Address:
R Neetu
Departments of Neurology, Rungta Hospital, D-694, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur - 302 017
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.25143
How to cite this article:
Neetu R, Chandra M S, Rashmi M. Cervical spinal epidural hematoma with acute Brown-Sιquard presentation. Neurol India 2006;54:107-8 |
Sir,
Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is rare. The SEH may be primary or secondary to other underlying causes such as trauma, anticoagulant therapy, vascular anomalies, blood dyscrasias, and epidural anesthesia.[1]
A 55 years male complaints of severe neck pain radiating to inter-scapular region of acute onset without any precipitating factor. He underwent chiropractic manipulation for relief of neck pain and then received low-molecular weight heparin fraxiparin (nadroparin) 0.6 mg twice daily with aspirin (150 mg) and clopidogrel (75 mg) in the mistaken belief that the pain was cardiac in origin. In next 48 h patient developed right sided weakness with paraesthesias in both upper limbs and bladder disturbances in form of frequency and urgency. Neurological examination revealed normal higher mental functions, cranial nerves (11th not tested due to severe pain), and ocular fundi. He had a grade (MRC) 1/5 power in right shoulder, 3/5 in elbow, and 4/5 at wrist. Right hip was 4/5 and distally power was 5/5. Left shoulder power was 4/5. All other joints on left side had normal power. Right biceps jerk (BJ), triceps jerk (TJ), and supinator jerks (SJ) were not elicitable. Left BJ, TJ, and SJ were 2+. Bilateral knee and ankle jerks were brisk with extensor planters. Sensory examination revealed diminished pinprick on left side without any definitive level. Proprioceptive sensations were normal. Neck movements were restricted and tender. A clinical diagnosis of compressive cervical myelopathy was made in view of acute Brown-Sιquard presentation suggesting spinal hemi paresis. It was confirmed by MR imaging of the cervical spine, which demonstrated an epidural hematoma extending from C1 to C5 level. It was hyper intense on both T1 and T2 weighted images [Figure - 1]A and B. Coagulation profile done included bleeding time 1 min 45 s, clotting time 4 min 15 s, prothrombin time control 15 s, patient 16 s, and platelet count of 2.35 lakhs. Heparin, aspirin, and clopidogrel were discontinued and patient was given intravenous 1 gm of methyprednisolone and surgery was planned. Within 24 h from onset of weakness power improved to grade 4/5 on right shoulder and it was decided to continue conservative management. Bladder symptoms resolved within 15 days. MRI and MR angiography were repeated [Figure - 2]A and B after 2 weeks, which showed significant resolution of hematoma without evidence of arterial dissection.
Chiropractic manipulation rarely leads to SEH with incidence being unknown due to limited case reports in literature.[2] Few case reports suggest association with thrombolytic agents, heparin and oral anticoagulants.[3] In our patient most likely the predisposing factor to SEH was uncontrolled hypertension and the same was accentuated due to chiropractic maneuvers and anticoagulants.
Early decompressive laminectomy is advocated in patients with significant and progressive neurological deficit and constitutes the standard line of treatment. Conservative treatment according to one review may be limited to those patients who present with mild or no neurological impairment, early and fast improvement of neurological deficit within 24 h, or a small hematoma not compressing the spinal cord.[4] Methylprednisolone has been used occasionally with good results and its beneficial effects evolve around the membrane-stabilizing effect and the ability to suppress lipid perioxidation and hydrolysis and inflammatory chain reaction at the injury site.[5]
| References | |  |
| 1. | Boukobza M, Guichard JP, Boissonet M, George B, Reizine D, Gelbert F, et al. Spinal epidural haematoma: report of 11 cases and review of literature. Neuroradiology 1994;36:456-9.  [PUBMED] |
| 2. | Segal DH, Lidov MW, Camis MB. Cervical epidural hematoma after chiropractic manipulation in healthy young woman: case report. Neurosurgery 1996;39:1043-5. |
| 3. | Heppner PA, Monteith SJ, Law AJ. Spontaneous spinal hematomas and low-molecular-weight heparin. Report of four cases and review of the literature. J Neurosurg Spine 2004;1:232-6. [PUBMED] |
| 4. | Grzelec H, KrzySlak K. Spontaneous epidural hematoma with uncommon clinical presentation: a case report. Neurol Neurochir Pol 2001;35:867-75. [PUBMED] |
| 5. | Ghaly RF. Recovery after high dose methylprednisolone and delayed evacuation: a case of spinal epidural hematoma. J Neurosurj Anesthesiol 2001;13:323-8. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
Figures
[Figure - 1], [Figure - 2]
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Brown-Sequard syndrome after manual manipulation of the cervical spine: case report |
|
| Clayton Walker, Eric Zager, Benjamin Abramoff | | Spinal Cord Series and Cases. 2022; 8(1) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
What are the risks of manual treatment of the spine? A scoping review for clinicians |
|
| Gabrielle Swait,Rob Finch | | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2017; 25(1) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 3 |
Small and medium size intracranial aneurysms - a 5 years retrospective analysis trial and multimodal treatment |
|
| Valentin Munteanu,Mircea Radu Gorgan | | Romanian Neurosurgery. 2015; 29(4) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 4 |
Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma with incomplete Brown-Sequard Syndrome |
|
| Mugurel Radoi,Florin Stefanescu,Ram Vakilnejad,Lidia Gheorghitescu | | Romanian Neurosurgery. 2015; 29(4) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 5 |
Brown-Sequard Syndrome: A Rare Presentation of Spontaneous Cervical Spinal Epidural Haematoma |
|
| SY Hsu,CJ Chang,CT Hsieh | | Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2014; 21(2): 107 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 6 |
Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematoma Causing Brown-Sequard Syndrome |
|
| Byul Hee Yoon,Ki Seok Park,Sung Sam Jung,Mun Sun Park,Seong-Min Kim,Seung-Young Chung,Jong-Chul Chung,Han-Kyu Kim | | Korean Journal of Spine. 2012; 9(3): 297 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 7 |
Safety of Chiropractic Interventions |
|
| Liliana Olim Gouveia,Pedro Castanho,Joaquim J. Ferreira | | Spine. 2009; 34(11): E405 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 8 |
Safety of chiropractic interventions: A systematic review |
|
| Gouveia, L.O., Castanho, P., Ferreira, J.J. | | Spine. 2009; 34(11): E405-E413 | | [Pubmed] | | | 9 |
Prediction of walking recovery after spinal cord injury |
|
| Scivoletto, G., Di Donna, V. | | Brain Research Bulletin. 2009; 78(1): 43-51 | | [Pubmed] | | | 10 |
Prediction of walking recovery after spinal cord injury |
|
| Giorgio Scivoletto,Valentina Di Donna | | Brain Research Bulletin. 2009; 78(1): 43 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
