ABSTRACT

Bleeding is a common complication in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy, and is mostly seen in the gastrointestinal tract. Intraspinal hematoma is a unique and dangerous complication of anticoagulant therapy. In our case, a 70 year - old male patient who had been using oral anticoagulants was admitted to the Emergency Department with nausea, neck pain and motor weakness in the right upper and lower extremities. His clinical fi ndings resembled cerebral disease. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SEDH) was diagnosed as a result of cervical and thoracic magnetic resonance imaging. The patient received conservative treatment for a specifi c period of time and was discharged without any sequel. In this case, we describe the diagnostic and therapeutic approach towards acute intraspinal hematoma occurring as a complication of anticoagulant therapy.

Keywords: Anticoagulant therapy, spinal epidural hematoma, intraspinal hematoma