Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in two toddlers: diagnostic pitfalls

We report two boys with a spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH). The first child presented at the age of 2 years with back pain and general weakness after a respiratory tract infection. After a first surgical intervention he developed a recurrence of bleeding, necessitating re-intervention. He developed medullary ischemia. Important neurologic deficits with paresis of the lower extremities and bladder dysfunction persisted. The other child presented at the age of 1,5 years with irritability and crying, attributed to a mesenteric lymphadenitis. He underwent a laminectomy with drainage of the hematoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. In both cases, no identifiable cause was found for the bleeding. SSEH is a rare condition, but represents a medical emergency. In most pediatric cases, presentation is atypical with back or neck pain and general irritability as sole initial symptom. Neurologic focal signs can arise hours or days after the onset of the bleeding. Knowledge of SSEH presenting signs and symptoms is important for timely diagnosis and treatment. Although it is mostly a solitary event, we stress the importance of close clinical, and if necessary radiological, follow up. Correspondence to: Nathalie Smeets, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology Unit University Hospital Brussels, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium, E-mail: [email protected]