Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma causing rapid flaccid paraplegia in a healthy 25-year-old patient

Although clinical presentation of a spinal epidural compressive haematoma is well recognized, causing acute radicular pain shortly followed by cord compression syndrome, its aetiology may pose a quandary. Rare and most commonly seen after trauma, spinal surgery, epidural anaesthesia, anticoagulation therapy, vascular malformation or coagulopathy (haemophilia), spinal epidural haematoma (SHE) can be spontaneous. Surgical decompression remains the mainstay treatment especially when the prognosis depends on the interval to surgery and the severity of preoperative neurological deficit. We report the case of a healthy 25-year-old man who presented, three days after an acute back pain, a flaccid paraplegia with urinary retention. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal column identified a compressive SHE extending from T3 to T6, requiring an early laminectomy. After decompression, clinical outcome revealed a complete recovery excepted some mild sensibility trouble remains.