Table 1 Red flags and pitfalls in the diagnosis of spinal epidural hematoma

Red flags in the diagnosis of spinal epidural hematoma

 1) Considering only the most frequent diagnosis, without excluding serious but infrequent diagnoses

 2) Persistent motor block

 3) Bowel/bladder dysfunction

 4) Other symptom (usually back or leg pain)

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of spinal epidural hematoma

 1) Ignoring the risk factors

 2) Administering treatment before making the diagnosis

 3) Not performing surgery only because too much time has passed since the appearance of the symptoms (> 12 h)