Anterior thoracic extradural hematoma in a 5-year-old child.
Four hours following a motor vehicle accident, a 5-year-old girl developed a complete motor and sensory paraplegia below the sixth thoracic level (T6). The plain X-rays and MRI scan identified nondisplaced compression fractures of the T3-T6 vertebrae, associated with an anterior T3-T5 epidural hematoma. Following an emergency T3-T6 laminectomy, the sensory findings disappeared, while the motor deficit took 2 weeks to resolve. This case report emphasizes the value of the MRI scan in assessing pediatric spinal trauma, while underscoring the unique characteristics of acute epidural spinal hematomas.
Epstein
N E
NE
Division of Neurosurgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
Gilder
M
M
Black
K
K
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery