Symptomatic Extensive Thoracolumbar Epidural Hematoma Following Lumbar Disc Surgery Treated by Single Level Laminectomy.
- Author:
Youssef ALI
1
;
Francois Xavier ROUX
;
Jean Francois MEDER
;
Johan PALLUD
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Epidural; Hematoma; Spine; Surgery; Management; Emergency; Postoperative
- MeSH: Diskectomy; Emergencies; Hematoma; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal; Humans; Laminectomy; Spine
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2012;6(2):152-155
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Spinal epidural hematomas (SEHs) are rare complications following spine surgery, especially for single level lumbar discectomies. The appropriate surgical management for such cases remains to be investigated. We report a case of an extensive spinal epidural hematoma from T11-L5 following a L3-L4 discectomy. The patient underwent a single level L4. A complete evacuation of the SEH resulted in the patient's full recovery. When presenting symptoms limited to the initial surgical site reveal an extensive postoperative SEH, we propose: to tailor the surgical exposure individually based on preoperative findings of the SEH; and to begin the surgical exposure with a limited laminectomy focused on the symptomatic levels that may allow an efficient evacuation of the SEH instead of a systematic extensive laminectomy based on imaging.
