A "neurosurgical crisis" of sickle cell disease.

The occurrence of spontaneous acute epidural hematomas is rare in patients with sickle cell disease. The authors report the case of a patient with sickle cell anemia who presented with a sickle cell crisis that was complicated by the development of multiple acute epidural and subgaleal hematomas requiring surgical evacuation. Possible underlying mechanisms are discussed. Although rare, clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon as part of a spectrum of neurological complications in these patients.