Open AccessCase Report: Thoracic Spinal Epidural Haematoma – an Unusual Cause of Chest Pain
Author(s) -
Chan KM,
Law KL,
Chung CH
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490790601300405
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , chest pain , magnetic resonance imaging , spinal cord compression , presentation (obstetrics) , decompression , back pain , spinal cord , surgery , epidural hematoma , hematoma , radiology , anesthesia , alternative medicine , pathology , psychiatry
Chest pain is a common presentation to the emergency department. Aetiologies to be considered are usually cardiac or pulmonary in origin. We reported a rare case of thoracic spinal epidural haematoma initially presenting to the emergency department with chest pain. The patient re‐attended the emergency department four hours after discharge with symptoms of cord compression. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed an epidural haematoma causing cord compression. Surgical decompression was performed with gradual resolution of symptoms. Simply ruling out acute coronary syndrome may not be sufficient in patients presenting with chest pain.