1/11. Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma associated with oral anticoagulant therapy.A 54-year-old woman who was on anticoagulant treatment with acenocoumarol for a mitral prothesis developed a cervical spinal epidural hematoma, probably triggered by coughing fits together with supratherapeutic anticoagulation. Because of the subacute evolution of the hematoma, it was not diagnosed until the patient was admitted to the hospital with profuse hemorrhages. Given the subacute nature of the hematoma, along with the favorable evolution, conservative treatment with dexamethasone was decided upon, and it was resolved with almost no sequelae. This unusual clinical entity definitely should be suspected in patients on anticoagulants who complain of severe localized neck pain, most often with radicular irradiation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/11. The importance of serial neurologic examination and repeat cranial tomography in acute evolving epidural hematoma.Computed tomography (CT) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of head-injured patients, and its increasing availability has led to its liberal use. CT scanning provides excellent anatomic detail of the brain as fixed static images, but the dynamic nature of human physiology means that many injury patterns will evolve in time. We describe an 8-year-old child who had fallen 8 feet from a tree. He had a brief loss of consciousness but a normal neurologic evaluation on arrival to the emergency department (ED). He underwent expedited cranial CT scanning, which revealed no acute brain injury. Two and one half hours later, the patient had a mild depression in consciousness, prompting a second CT scan in the ED, which revealed an acute epidural hematoma. He had acute surgical evacuation of the hematoma and made a full neurologic recovery. This case illustrates that a single early CT examination may at times provide a false sense of security and underscores the importance of serial neurologic examinations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/11. The injured coach.The patient in this case was diagnosed as having an epidural hematoma (shown in x-ray at right). This results from hemorrhage between the dura mater and the skull. The hemorrhage may result from a traumatic insult to the side of the head, which can fracture the temporal bone and lacerate the middle meningeal artery. Since the hemorrhage is arterial in nature, the patient may deteriorate quickly. These patients may present with what is referred to as a "lucid interval." The patient typically has a significant blow to the head that results in a short period of unconsciousness. They then regain consciousness at a time that frequently coincides with the arrival of EMS. Once conscious, they are in a period known as the lucid interval. They will still have a headache, but may otherwise be acting normally and show no other physical findings on examination. Many such patients refuse treatment and transport. [table: see text] Inside the skull, however, the problem will grow. Broken arterial vessels are bleeding, causing an expanding hematoma. The patient typically will soon complain of a severe headache along with other associated complaints, such as nausea/vomiting, then will lose consciousness again and/or have a seizure. Initial physical findings may include contralateral weakness and a decreased Glasgow coma score. As the hematoma expands, cerebral herniation may occur, compressing the third cranial nerve, which presents as a "blown pupil." EMS providers should have a high suspicion of injuries that affect the side of the head and the base of the skull. It is important to not only assess such injuries, but also the mechanism of injury, and to know the complications or later presentation that can arise from such injuries. Given that this patient was alert, oriented, not obviously intoxicated, and accompanied by his wife, the providers in this case would have had no choice but to abide by a refusal of treatment and transport. However, that could lead to serious complications, such as ongoing minor neurological deficits, later on. If this is the case, contacting medical control should be the priority.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/11. Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the skull complicated with an epidural hematoma.Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder that affects the pediatric population. LCH complicated with a neurologic deficit due to the presence of epidural involvement is a rare condition. We describe the CT imaging features in a 2-year-old boy who presented with drowsy consciousness resulting from an epidural hematoma caused by spontaneous bleeding in an LCH of the skull. CT is an excellent means of depicting the full extent of bony destruction and the nature of the process.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/11. Chronic extradural haematomas: indications for surgery.Non-invasive neuro-imaging has led to the detection of minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic chronic extradural haematomas. Our experience and review of the literature suggests that, as in the case of chronic subdural haematomas, there is development of membranes and liquifaction of the clot which may permit drainage of such collections through twist drill or burrholes. The time from development and the neuro-imaging chanes on CT and MRI can suggest the age and nature of the clot and thus permit timing of surgery so that drainage may be accomplished with a minor procedure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/11. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: pre-operative diagnosis by MRI.A case of "spontaneous" spinal epidural hematoma diagnosed by MRI confirms the accuracy of the procedure in establishing the nature of the lesion, in delineating its topography and its effects on the spinal cord. MRI, when available, should be regarded as a primary method of investigation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/11. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a 7-year-old girl. Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging.The authors report a 7-year-old girl who developed neck pain and stiffness over a four-day period. There was no fever, trauma, systemic illness or headache. physical examination demonstrated subtle neurologic deficits indicative of cervical cord compression. CAT scan and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine demonstrated a spinal epidural hematoma, which was evacuated surgically. Post-operative angiography failed to demonstrate a vascular abnormality. The child recovered without neurologic deficit. MRI proved to be a sensitive tool in identifying the nature and extent of this lesion, and may be considered in lieu of myelography.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/11. MR demonstration of spontaneous acute epidural hematoma of the thoracic spine.Two patients with spontaneous epidural hematoma of the thoracic spine are presented. The magnetic resonance (MR) examination performed within the first hours following the onset of symptoms demonstrated an epidural elongated lesion impinging on the spinal cord, compatible with hematoma. In one of the patients this finding was surgically confirmed. The second patient improved under steroid treatment. The MR findings were highly suggestive of the pathological nature of the lesion. The MR examination should replace other diagnostic procedures, such as computerised tomography (CT) and myelography.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/11. Epidural hematoma: report of seven cases with delayed evolution of symptoms.Epidural hematomas occasionally have a prolonged clinical course with gradual evolution of the neurologic symptoms. Seven such cases are reviewed in this report. Although the clinical course is insidious, there are certain features which should signal the presence of a slowly expanding hematoma. After an apparently minor head injury, the patient who is usually in the younger age group, develops headache. This persists and is accompanied by other non-specific neurologic symptoms which may lead to a mistaken diagnosis of "post-concussion syndrome". papilledema and focal neurologic deficits eventually appear. Definitive diagnosis is made by the CT scan, although contrast enhancement may be necessary to confirm the nature of the lesion. The treatment is craniotomy and evacuation of the hematoma before serious neurologic deterioration occurs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/11. Computed tomography of posterior fossa trauma.A group of 1,700 cases of head trauma were reviewed to determine the incidence of posterior fossa injuries and to assess the value of computed tomography (CT) in their diagnosis and management. In 57 cases (3.3%), the most significant and primary injuries were within the posterior fossa. These included epidural hematoma (EDH), acute and chronic subdural hematoma (SDH), and parenchymal hemorrhage and contusion of the cerebellum and brainstem. The prognosis varies with the location and severity of the injury. Brainstem injuries are associated with a high mortality rate. Computed tomography proves particularly useful in the early recognition of brainstem injury. The demonstration by CT of obliteration of the cisterns surrounding the brainstem is a reliable sign of a grave prognosis in brainstem injury. Contrast enhancement is useful in demonstrating whether the dural sinuses are displaced, thus differentiating EDH from SDH. Except in the rare case of vascular injury unassociated with EDH, CT correlated with the neurological examination is an accurate method of determining the nature, location, and extent of significant posterior fossa injury. Scans of high quality are mandatory, and frequent supplementary contrast studies are recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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