Study design: A case report of an upper thoracic spinal subdural hemorrhage
which was managed successfully by conservative treatment.
Objectives: Spinal subdural hemorrhage is rare and can cause serious neurol
ogic symptoms. Surgery is the most common treatment and is believed to prev
ent further neurologic injury. A case of an upper thoracic spinal subdural
hemorrhage which was managed successfully by conservative therapy is report
ed.
Setting: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokai University School of Medi
cine, Isehara, Japan.
Methods: A 29-year-old woman presented with acute severe back pain. She exp
erienced acutely developed weakness of both lower extremities, hypesthesia
below T6 and urinary retention. Magnetic resonance imaging performed on the
day of hospital admission revealed the existence of a subdural hematoma in
the upper thoracic spine. Muscle strength of the lower extremities was gra
de 0 on admission, but improved slightly on day 1. The decision was made to
manage the patient nonoperatively by corticosteroid and diuretic administr
ation.
Results: Improvement was gradual but progressive. Muscle strength was grade
4 out of 5 on the 28th day. Magnetic resonance imaging at 3 months except
for mild urinary retention.
Conclusions: Spinal subdural hemorrhage can be treated nonoperatively by co
rrelating magnetic resonance image findings with the clinical condition.