# Delayed presentation of traumatic cervical epidural hematoma: a case report and review of the pertinent literature

## TL;DR

A rare case of a spinal epidural hematoma appearing weeks after injury shows that early diagnosis and surgery can improve recovery.

## Contribution

Highlights the importance of considering delayed traumatic spinal epidural hematoma in patients with unexplained neurological symptoms.

## Key findings

- The patient showed neurological improvement after surgical removal of the hematoma.
- Delayed presentation of SEH can occur weeks after initial trauma without immediate symptoms.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.

## Abstract

A delayed presentation of traumatic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a rare disease in which most patients are asymptomatic for days to weeks after the injury, followed by pain and then a neurological deficit. A 66-year-old woman who suffered a fractured right clavicle due to a bicycle accident 42 days previously, presented with left shoulder pain and left hemiplegia. The manual muscle test (MMT) scores of the left upper and lower limbs were all 1. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed no cervical fracture but showed cervical epidural hematoma. She underwent surgery for the removal of the SEH. Her MMT score improved to 4 at 10 days after surgery. Even in cases with a delayed presentation, suspecting SEH can help clinicians make an early diagnosis. Additionally, the prompt surgical evacuation of the SEH can lead to favorable neurological outcomes in symptomatic cases.