{"id":"e64503ec-f5ed-4932-b53b-7907cb11f239","slug":"traumatic-lumbar-disc-extrusion-mimicking-spinal-epidural-hematoma-case-report-and-literature-review","title":"Traumatic lumbar disc extrusion mimicking spinal epidural hematoma: Case report and literature review","authors":["Luigi Basile","Lara Brunasso","Rosa Maria Gerardi","Rosario Maugeri","Domenico Gerardo Iacopino","Carlo Gulì","Maria Angela Pino","Silvana Tumbiolo","Giovanni Federico Nicoletti","Francesca Graziano"],"abstract":"Background: Because the neurological presentation of spinal epidural hematomas (SEH) is often not specific, they may be misdiagnosed as acute lumbar disk herniations. Here, we present a case in which a traumatic disc extrusion mimicked an epidural hematoma and reviewed the appropriate literature. Case Description: A 27-year-old male sustained a high-energy fall. The lumbar MRI scan showed a L4-S1 ventral medium/high signal intensity mass on the T1- and high signal intensity lesion on T2-weighted images; the original diagnosis was spinal epidural hematoma. However, at surgery, consisting of a left L4 and L5 hemilaminectomy with L4-L5 and L5-S1 laminotomy, an extruded lumbar disc was encountered at the L4-L5 level and removed; no additional pathology or SEH was found at either level. Conclusion: On MR, SEH may mimic acute lumbar disk herniations. Depending on the clinical symptoms/signs, surgical intervention will both correctly confirm the diagnosis and relieve neural compression.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/e64503ec-f5ed-4932-b53b-7907cb11f239/featured/hero-cropped-1781563042670.jpg","publishDate":"2020-10-21T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_407_2020","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/e64503ec-f5ed-4932-b53b-7907cb11f239/pdf"}