Spinal subdural and epidural hematomas after vertebroplasty for compression fracture: a case report.

Abstract

Vertebroplasty (VP) is a well-known and effective therapeutic method for relieving the pain and improving the quality of life of patients with vertebral compression fractures. Major complications of VP are infrequent, occurring in no more than 1% of such procedures, whereas spinal subdural and epidural hematomas are extremely rare complications. We present a unique case of a spinal subdural hematoma (sSDH) (from T4 to T12) occurring immediately after VP to treat a traumatic vertebral compression fracture, followed by a spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) (from T3 to T12) after the decompressive laminectomy, occurring in a 64-year-old patient. After removing of the big spinal epidural hematoma, the patient's symptoms improved progressively and she recovered after 2 months. This is a rare case of sSDH and SEH occurring continuously after VP. The pathogenesis may be that the puncture damaged the abnormal blood vessel of spinal dura mater. A small-probability event is not an impossible event. We hope to bring more attention to the rare complications of VP by sharing this unusual case.