“Think Beyond Trauma!” Multiple Epidural Hematoma in Sickle Cell Disease:  A Conundrum

Ruchika  Bhatnagar; Anita  Kumari

doi:10.18502/ijpho.v15i1.17284

Ruchika Bhatnagar Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
Anita Kumari Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpho.v15i1.17284

Keywords: Anemia, Epidural hematoma, Ischemic stroke, Sickle cell disease, Vascular malformations

Abstract

Epidural hematoma is conventionally thought to occur secondary to trauma. Atraumatic/spontaneous epidural hematoma is of rare occurrence and the etiology spans from dural vascular malformations, neoplasms, and coagulopathy to sinus, middle ear, and orbital infections. Occurrence of atraumatic epidural hematoma in sickle cell disease is rarely reported as opposed to frequent neurological complications, such as ischemic stroke seen in 54% of cases, followed by intracerebral, subarachnoid, intraventricular, or subdural hemorrhages. This study reports the case of an eight-year-old male with Sickle cell disease (SCD). He suffered from fever followed by splenic sequestration and multiple spontaneous epidural hematomas without mass effect and successfully managed with conservative treatment.