{"id":"5d5712d6-e1b2-4fbf-8d31-dc0e6de400a8","slug":"spinal-epidural-hematoma-mimicking-subarachnoid-hemorrhage-a-case-study","title":"Spinal epidural hematoma mimicking subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case study","authors":["Rovlias Aristedis","Bougioulis Dimitrios"],"abstract":"Background: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare spinal cord disorder requiring urgent diagnosis and prompt treatment to prevent irreversible neurological damage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), usually presenting with headache and neck stiffness, is also a worldwide neurosurgical emergency. In this case study, a patient on clopidogrel presented with an SSEH mimicking a spontaneous SAH. Case Description: A 74-year-old female presented with severe headache and neck pain which ultimately attributed to a cervicothoracic SSEH resulting in cord compression. Notably, there was a long delay in establishing the diagnosis of SSEH as her symptoms mimicked a SAH. Although the patient ultimately underwent spinal surgery followed by intense rehabilitation, the diagnostic delay resulted in a poor neurological outcome. Conclusions: Patients with spontaneous cervicothoracic epidural hematomas may occasionally present with symptoms of severe headache and neck pain/stiffness mimicking an SAH. Long diagnostic delays in establishing SSEH may result in irreversible cord damage.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5d5712d6-e1b2-4fbf-8d31-dc0e6de400a8/featured/hero-1782420807825.png","publishDate":"2017-08-10T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/sni.sni_197_17","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"http://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/8545/SNI-8-182.pdf"}