Intraspinal Hemorrhage

Acute spinal cord and cauda equina compression from intraspinal hemorrhage can be neurosurgical emergencies and may lead to profound neurologic deficits even if identified and treated promptly. Hemorrhagic etiologies are numerous and include trauma, iatrogenesis, secondary origins such as underlying tumor, vascular pathology, and anticoagulation, as well idiopathic causes. Spinal hemorrhages can be epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, and/or intramedullary in location. This entity spans all ages and is imperative to consider in the differential diagnosis for symptoms of acute pain and/or neurologic deficit until appropriately ruled out. Prompt surgical intervention is warranted in many or most cases of symptomatic intraspinal hemorrhage.