Extradural Spinal-Cord Hematoma

DICUMAROL (3,3′-methylenebis-4-hydroxycoumarin) is a well established agent in the prevention and treatment of embolism and intravascular thrombosis by virtue of its ability to depress prothrombin formation. It was early found that the clinical use of this anticoagulant might be accompanied by hemorrhage, which has been reported as commonly occurring in the genitourinary tract, brain and cerebral meninges, postoperative wounds, pleural cavity, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Other sites of hemorrhage include the retroperitoneal tissues (sometimes after lumbar sympathetic block), the pericardial cavity and joints. The case presented below is unusual in that an extradural spinal-cord hematoma developed secondary to Dicumarol therapy. . . .