Introduction

Spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) and traumatic spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH) are rare, and the exact mechanism for their pathogenesis is not clearly understood (1). Spinal SDH is most common in the thoracic and thoracolumbar regions (1). The causes of spinal SDH-SSAH include hemorrhagic disorders, traumas, the transition of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to the subdural space, vascular malformation, anticoagulation use, spinal surgery, lumbar puncture, or spinal anesthesia (1,2). In addition, spinal tumors, diabetes, chronic kidney failure, and alcoholism have been reported as causes of spinal SDH (1). Traumatic intracranial bleeding can cause spinal bleeding without direct damage to the spine. Traumatic SSAH or spinal SDH is thought to be caused by the migration of intracranial traumatic SAH or SDH without direct spinal injuries (3).

There are a few reported cases with simultaneous cranial SDH-SAH and SSAH (3). In this article, we present a male patient with post-traumatic cranial SAH-SDH and simultaneous spinal SAH.

Case Report

A 76-year-old man is rushed to the emergency room for a head trauma, with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery bypass surgery 20 years ago. The physical and clinical examinations revealed a temperature of 37.5 °C, pulse rate of 110 beats/min, blood pressure of 125/80 mmHg, respiratory rate of 19 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation of 96% at room air. On neurological examination, the general condition was medium, he was cooperative and orientated, was dysarthric, had a good comprehension, and a GCS of 15. His pupils were isochoric, and his eyes were free in all directions. He had no facial asymmetry, upper and lower extremity examination was unremarkable, he presented no motor and sensory loss, and the cerebellar tests were unremarkable. He was on aspirin but did not take anticoagulants. A brain computed tomography (CT) was performed to assess the patient’s impaired consciousness; SAH was observed in both hemispheric cortical sulci, basal cystern, bilateral silvian and interhemispheric fissures (Figure 1). We found a 12 mm thick SDH in the left temporoparietal region (Figure 2). The patient was hospitalized in neurosurgery intensive care unit. No aneurysm was detected on cranial CT angiography. Three days after the trauma, he developed back pain radiating to his legs and weakness in the bilateral lower extremities. A lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on day 7 after the trauma to investigate the increased pain and numbness. On lumbar MRI, the L5-S2 vertebra corpus projections were leveled in the subarachnoid area, with mild hyperintensity on T1AG and mild hypointensity on T2AG, and a 50x10 mm SAH was detected (Figure 3). We proposed a conservative treatment instead of surgery due to his heart disease, signs of infection, and the mild neurological deficit. After one month of follow-up, the patient was discharged with no neurological deficit and a good mobilization and oral intake. We obtained an informed consent from the patient.

Discussion

Spinal SDH-SSAH usually occurs due to trauma, coagulopathy, vascular malformation, spinal puncture, lumbar instrumentation, and other invasive procedures, or may occur spontaneously (4). SSDH may occur in patients with traumatic intracranial SDH (3), and is most common in the thoracic region. It manifests as a sudden back pain radiating to the upper or lower extremities or trunk, and can cause motor dysfunction, sensory deficiency, and autonomic dysreflexes (5). It commonmy occurs in adults over 50 years old (1).

The spinal subdural space is avascular and a hemorrhage is thought to be from the subarachnoid region (1). This is supported by the presence of accompanying SAH in several cases with spinal SDH. When the arachnoid membrane is torn, bleeding from the subarachnoid space extends into the subdural space (5). If there is a rupture in the arachnoid, intracranial SDH leaks from the subarachnoid space to the arachnoid, this facilitates spontaneous resolution and migration of the SDH (3). Also, a raised intracranial pressure due to the intracranial SDH can push the hematoma directly into the skull base or spinal canal through the subdural space (1).

The spinal subdural space is void of large blood vessels or bridging veins that serve as a source for SDH (6). The simultaneous occurrence of cranial SAH and spinal SDH in different regions is extremely rare. The cranial SAH can extend to the spinal SAH and then through the arachnoid membrane to extend to the spinal subdural space. The opposite form, which moves from the spinal to the cranial region, can also be seen (6). In addition, the large amount of SAH extending from the cranium to the spinal area can compress the spinal cord or cause laceration in the arachnoid membrane, causing SSDH (1).

The anterior and posterior spinal cisternes are lined to the posterior cranial fossa cystern via the foramen magnum. Therefore, blood can pass from the intracranial subarachnoid to the spinal subarachnoid. This migration occurs most likely with large SAHs or after the patient’s early uprising (7). The authors argued that blood in the intracranial subarachnoid space may migrate to the subarachnoid space in the most caudal part of the spinal canal (8). In this article, SSAH was detected in the lumbosacral region on a lumbar MRI done seven days later in the patient with traumatic intracranial SDH and SAH.

SSAH is located intradural extramedullary. It extends across multiple vertebral corpus levels and can also be seen as a focal clot. The hematoma typically shows the liquid-fluid level at the bottom of the dural sac or other dependant parts (thoracic vertebra in the supine position). However, a hematoma is located in the ventral spinal cord/cauda equina (9). SDHs are crescentric in shape, they do not show liquid-liquid leveling, and the dura dark signals separate this collection from the epidural adipose tissue. Spinal SDH and SAH can occur simultaneously (9).

Emergency decompressive surgery is the first treatment option for spinal SDH-SAH in patients with worsening neurological conditions. Conservative treatment is a good option for patients with minimal neurological disorders (3), which has been be proven to have a good clinical outcome (6). Syringomyelia SSAH and arachnoid cysts associated with arachnoiditis are rare complications (10).

Patients with traumatic brain injury may present with delayed spinal bleeding. Patients presenting with traumatic intracranial SAH or SDH with delayed pain or neurological deficits should be evaluated immediately for spinal SAH or SDH in the first period of trauma, even in the absence of symptoms of direct spinal injury or spinal injury.

Ethics

Informed Consent: Written informed consent was obtained from patient.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Authorship Contributions: Surgical and Medical Practices - H.K., V.K.; Concept - A.T.; Design - H.K., O.K.; Data Collection or Processing - H.K., V.K., O.K.; Analysis or Interpretation - H.K., V.K.; Literature Search - H.K., A.T.; Writing - H.K., O.K.

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.