Traumatic spinal subarachnoid hematoma: Report of a case with MRI

BACKGROUND Spinal subarachnoid hematoma (SAH) is uncommon following traumatic injury to the spine. There are few case reports of neurologic deficit secondary to traumatic spinal SAH. CASE DESCRIPTION This 6-year-old boy was injured in a vehicular accident from which he became paraplegic and presented to us I week later. Plain X rays were normal and a myelo-computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated an irregular intradural lesion from D10-L2. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an SAH at D11-12 level, posterior to the cord, which was surgically evacuated. The patient did not improve neurologically. CONCLUSION Significant cord injury and neurologic deficit can occur without obvious abnormalities on plain X rays or CT scan. MRI is very useful in detecting these lesions and can help in their management. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.