Acute spinal epidural hematoma after decompression of thoracic spinal stenosis

Objective To explore the risk factors,diagnosis,treatments and prevention for acute spinal epidural hematoma after decompression of thoracic spinal stenosis.Methods From June 2003 to December 2011,101 patients with thoracic spinal stenosis underwent laminectomy through posterior approach.Acute epidural hematoma ocurred in 9 patients after the operation,which was confirmed by the secondary surgical treatment.The clinical manifestation and the detail of the secondary surgery were retrospectively analyzed.Results All the 9 patients were followed up from 3 to 45 months(mean 34 months).The neurological function scores were 0.89±0.78 and 2.33±1.22 before and after hematoma(t=4.91,P0.01),respectively.The average duration of epidural hematoma was(7.72±7.06) min.The recovery of neurological function was negatively correlated with the duration of hematoma(r=-0.789 6,P0.01).Conclusion Spinal decompression should be performed as soon as possible for the epidural hematoma after thoracic laminectomy.The earlier removal of hematoma,the better recovery of neurological function.