title: Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma of intracranial origin presenting as back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) is an uncommon condition mainly associated with bleeding dyscrasias, use of anticoagulants, trauma, iatrogenic procedures, and vascular malformations. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are recommended to prevent progressive neurologic compromise. Spinal SDH concomitant with intracranial SDH is an even rarer entity, with few cases reported in the English literature. Here we present a case of spontaneous spinal SDH with intracranial SDH presenting as sacral back pain in a 70-year-old man. We also describe the potential mechanism, treatment, and prognosis of concomitant spinal and intracranial SDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report an unusual case of spontaneous spinal SDH concomitant with intracranial SDH and discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, potential etiology, treatment, and prognosis of this disease. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Awareness of the association between spinal SDH and intracranial SDH can expedite appropriate imaging of both brain and spine, which can lead to a more complete diagnosis and require changes in patient management in the emergency setting.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Department, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Judy C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Department, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Kerri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Layman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D046648:Hematoma, Subdural, Intracranial / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D046649:Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence
keywords: back pain; intracranial hemorrhage; spinal hematoma; spontaneous hemorrhage; subdural hematoma