title: Spontaneous epidural hematoma as a cause of sciatic pain in a schoolboy.
abstract: A previously healthy 13-year-old boy began to manifest radiating pain in his left leg after heavy physical exertion during judo training. He also had a sensation of numbness in his left buttock and leg. Initially, the patient was treated conservatively with a clinical diagnosis of disc herniation. However, following 3 months of conservative treatment, there was no relief of pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated an epidural mass causing compression of the dural sac at the L4-L5 disc level. During surgery, the L5 nerve root was found to be severely compressed in the spinal canal because of a chronic epidural hematoma. Following microsurgical removal of this hematoid mass, the patient had a good recovery. Spontaneous epidural hematomas in the lumbar region are rare, and only a few cases presenting with features simulating those caused by a disc herniation have been reported. Our patient represents the first such case described in a child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and Surgery, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kotilainen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pajulo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery