All of the following are symptoms of a developing epidural hematoma EXCEPT

All of the following are symptoms of a developing epidural hematoma EXCEPT

• A. Radicular back pain
• B. Bowel and bladder dysfunction
• C. Sensory deficits
• D. Fever and chills

Answer: (D)

A spinal epidural hematoma presents as a space-occupying lesion that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots, leading to progressive neurologic signs. The hallmark early symptom is severe back pain that can radiate along a nerve root (radicular back pain) as the hematoma irritates and compresses the exiting roots. As compression worsens, sensory deficits appear in the dermatomes served by the affected level, followed by motor weakness. Autonomic involvement can cause bowel and bladder dysfunction because the autonomic pathways controlling those functions are affected by the evolving compression. Fever and chills do not fit the pattern of a developing hematoma; they point toward infection or inflammatory processes, such as an epidural abscess or other systemic illness, rather than hematoma progression.

A spinal epidural hematoma presents as a space-occupying lesion that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots, leading to progressive neurologic signs. The hallmark early symptom is severe back pain that can radiate along a nerve root (radicular back pain) as the hematoma irritates and compresses the exiting roots. As compression worsens, sensory deficits appear in the dermatomes served by the affected level, followed by motor weakness. Autonomic involvement can cause bowel and bladder dysfunction because the autonomic pathways controlling those functions are affected by the evolving compression.

Fever and chills do not fit the pattern of a developing hematoma; they point toward infection or inflammatory processes, such as an epidural abscess or other systemic illness, rather than hematoma progression.