Idiopathic spinal epidural hematoma in an infant: A case report with peculiar manifestation

Abstract

Idiopathic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) might be an extremely rare cause of spine compression. It is most common between the fourth and fifth decades of life. It is sporadic in children and is often complicated due to the limitations of a neurologic examination and nonspecific symptoms within the pediatric population. It is typically an isolated event. Only a few cases of relapsing paraparesis due to idiopathic SEH have been mentioned in the literature in adults. We are presenting a rare case of idiopathic SEH in a 1-year-old girl whose diagnosis was deferred after a recent similar history of paraparesis occurred after her scheduled immunization and went on for around 2 weeks, after which the patient recovered completely. However, 2 months later, the patient presented again with paraparesis, and the magnetic resonance imaging revealed an idiopathic SEH. We are detailing this case to raise the plausibility of a remission and relapse phenomenon within the idiopathic SEH presentation that may mimic some neurological disorders of infancy and childhood. The present case was managed surgically and yielded full recovery.