A rare, high cervical traumatic spinal subdural hematoma.

Spinal subdural hematomas (SSDH) are rare lesions occurring in association with a wide variety of conditions, including anticoagulation, coagulation disorders, spinal anesthesia, lumbar puncture, spinal tumors and vascular malformations. SSDH resulting from trauma are the exception. We present a 62-year-old woman with a rare post-traumatic focal SSDH at C1 with bulbomedullary compression, treated successfully with surgery. A review of the literature revealed 26 patients with traumatic SSDH. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical presentation, imaging characteristics and management of traumatic SSDH. The controversial pathogenesis is also discussed.