Cyclic alternation of paraplegia and leg pain as symptoms of a giant spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a neurosurgical emergency and can occur due to spinal arteriovenous malformations, haemangiomas or rupture of epidural venous plexus favoured by coagulation disorders. The initial symptoms include back pain with radicular or pseudoradicular irradiation which can progress to neurological signs of complete spinal cord compression. Prognostic factors for recovery after surgical compression include eoperative neurological deficits, extent of affected vertebral segments, radiological signs of spinal cord compression and the interval between symptom onset and surgery. We reported a case of a giant spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma with atypical behavior.