Anterior thoracic extradural hematoma in a 5-year-old child.

Four hours following a motor vehicle accident, a 5-year-old girl developed a complete motor and sensory paraplegia below the sixth thoracic level (T6). The plain X-rays and MRI scan identified nondisplaced compression fractures of the T3-T6 vertebrae, associated with an anterior T3-T5 epidural hematoma. Following an emergency T3-T6 laminectomy, the sensory findings disappeared, while the motor deficit took 2 weeks to resolve. This case report emphasizes the value of the MRI scan in assessing pediatric spinal trauma, while underscoring the unique characteristics of acute epidural spinal hematomas.