A patient with delayed traumatic cervical spinal epidural haematoma presenting with hemiparesis.

Delayed presentation of spinal epidural haematoma post-trauma is rare, and portends a significant management challenge for clinicians. A 57-year-old female presented 1 week after motor vehicle accident with a 24-hour history of progressive interscapular pain and right-sided hemiparesis. Urgent spinal MRI demonstrated an extensive epidural haematoma extending from C3 to T2. The patient made an excellent post-operative neurological recovery. The importance of clinical suspicion is highlighted, especially in patients presenting with unilateral neurological deficits, as well as expeditious spinal radiography (including CT scans) and emergent surgical treatment in achieving positive clinical outcomes. Crown Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.