title: Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma associated with aspirin intake.
abstract: Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is rare. No identifiable cause is found in the majority of cases, while anticoagulation accounts for up to 17 percent of cases. Aspirin-associated SSEH, however, has rarely been described in literature. A 62-year-old man on prophylactic aspirin presented with symptoms of acute cord compression due to spinal epidural haematoma that was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging. An emergency decompression laminectomy was performed ten hours after the onset of his symptoms. No vascular anomaly was detected. Our patient recovered well and regained full motor and sensory function. Aspirin is unlikely to be the direct cause of SSEH but may predispose to it, with the underlying cause being a locus minoris resistentiae, consisting of a network of weakened epidural veins. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alexandra Hospital, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159964. jacob_oh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J Y L
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lingaraj
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahmat
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004630:Emergencies; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001241:Aspirin