Spinal cord haematoma, or haematomyelia, is a rare condition caused by several unusual disease processes. Traumatic events, such as spinal cord injury and surgery or procedures involving the spinal cord, are the most important causes of spinal cord haematoma. Rarely, it is associated with anticoagulation therapy. Irrespective of cause, spinal cord haematoma is considered a neurosurgical emergency and must be treated promptly in order to prevent neurological sequelae. The authors describe the case of a 69-year-old patient taking warfarin in the therapeutic range for a mechanic mitral valve, who developed chest pain with cervical and dorsal radiation, and experienced sudden paraparesis of the limbs. A CT of the spine confirmed haematomyelia. A high index of suspicion, prompt recognition and immediate intervention are essential to prevent major morbidity and mortality from intraspinal haemorrhage.
Learning points: This article reports an unusual presentation of spontaneous spinal haematoma, imposing the careful elaboration of differential diagnoses, which is very important in internal medicine.The description of this low-incidence case allows the scientific community to assist in approaching patients with similar symptoms.The lack of studies about the etiology and treatment of spontaneous spinal haematoma underlines the need for further studies and research in the area in order to increase the scientific evidence on the approach of these patients.
Keywords: Haematomyelia; epidural haematoma; laminectomy; myelopathy; neurologic deficit; spinal cord compression; spinal cord disease; spinal haematoma; warfarin.