Asian Spine Journal  2010;4(2):118-122

doi:10.4184/asj.2010.4.2.118

Delayed Spinal Epidural Hematoma after En Block Spondylectomy for Vertebral Ewing's Sarcoma.

Boram KIM 1 ; Seong Hwan MOON ; Sun Yong KIM ; Ho Joong KIM ; Hwan Mo LEE

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Epidural hematoma; Ewing's sarcoma; Spine; En block spondylectomy

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

We report here on a case of a 23-year-old male who received en block spondylectomy for a vertebral Ewing's sarcoma at our hospital. Nine days after surgery, he presented with severe back pain and motor weakness of the lower extremities. Based on the physical examination and the computed tomography scan, he was diagnosed with acute cauda equina syndrome that was caused by compression from an epidural hematoma. His neurological functions recovered after emergency evacuation of the hematoma. This case showed that extensive surgery for a malignant vertebral tumor has a potential risk of delayed epidural hematoma and acute cauda equina syndrome and this should be treated with emergency evacuation.