Spinal epidural hematomas.

During the period 1943-1985 six patients were operated for spinal epidural hematomas at the department of neurosurgery of the University Hospital of Arhus. It is essential to perform acute laminectomy in case of rapidly increasing neurological symptoms. In the case of slowly increasing symptoms operation may provide a good result even if it is performed a week after the onset of symptoms. It is important to watch patients with fracture/dislocations of the spine closely during the first weeks after a trauma. If they develop neurological symptoms the patients should immediately be transferred to the department of neurosurgery with a view of