Acute Cervical Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma Presenting with Minimal Neurological Deficits: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an uncommon but potentially fatal condition. The increased bleeding tendency associated with anticoagulant medications has been proven to increase the risk of SSEH. The symptoms of SSEH usually begin with sudden severe neck or back pain and are followed by neurological deficits. However, some cases present with only axial pain or with radicular pain similar to herniated disc disorders. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old healthy man developed a sudden onset of severe neck and right shoulder pain with mild arm weakness. The MRI revealed an SSEH that was compressing his spinal cord in the right posterolateral epidural space from C2-C6. On the second hospital day, his symptoms suddenly improved, and most of the hematoma had spontaneously resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the incidence of SSEH is expected to increase. Pain physicians must include SSEH in their differential diagnosis for patients with axial pain or radicular symptoms alone, particularly when risk factors are present.