Acute Epidural Hematoma Following Cervical Spinal Fracture in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of epidural hematoma following cervical spinal fracture in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW An early surgical intervention for acute epidural hematoma following cervical spinal fracture led to improvements in the patient's neurological deficits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 76-year-old male with ankylosing spondylitis presented with neck pain and motor weakness of both upper and lower extremities after falling. He sustained fractures of the C7 body and the spinous processes of C5 and C6. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an extensive epidural hematoma from C7 to T5. The authors performed decompression from C6 to T2, and posterior instrumentation and fusion from C4 to T3. RESULTS: An urgent surgical intervention was performed, and a good result was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The authors describe an early surgical intervention in a case of acute epidural hematoma following cervical spinal fracture in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.