Rezvani M, Sabouri M, Aminmansour B, Falahpour S, Sourani A, Sharafi M, Baradaran Mahdavi S, Foroughi M, Nik Khah R, Sourani A, Veisi S. Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma following COVID-19 vaccination: a case report.
Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024;
86:612-619. [PMID:
38222759 PMCID:
PMC10783308 DOI:
10.1097/ms9.0000000000001604]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction
COVID-19 vaccination side effects are rare but important medical situations. Spine-affecting side effects are amongst the rarest, but exceedingly important. Haemorrhagic spinal manifestations of COVID-19 and its vaccines are less reported with little knowledge about them.
Case presentation
An 80-year-old male who received his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine had developed COVID-19 pneumonia, weakness, and sensory problems in his legs followed by sphincter incontinence within 5 days period. MRI showed a spontaneous epidural spinal epidural haematoma (SSEDH) in T10-L1. He underwent laminectomy and haematoma evacuation. One month follow-up showed no clinical improvement.
Discussion
To our knowledge, this was the first post-vaccination SSEDH and second in haemorrhagic spinal complications following COVID-19 vaccination. Considering the neuropathogenesis pathway of COVID-19 and its vaccines, there are common mechanisms of action that could potentially justify post-vaccination SSEDH such as seen in COVID-19 infection, itself. Early Neurosurgical intervention and better preoperative neurological status could be a beneficial modifier for favourable clinical outcomes.
Conclusion
SSEDH and COVID-19 vaccine coincidence is a rare clinical event, still no solid association could be scientifically explained. Further studies are required for a reliable pathophysiologic association. Early diagnosis, interdisciplinary medical approach, and faster intervention are the cornerstone of the treatment paradigm.
Collapse