Spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage presenting as spinal block without meningism

Abstract

A case of spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage with progressive spinal cord compression and without any evidence of meningism is described. Spinal block was demonstrated by myelography and computerized tomography and surgical decompression of the subarachnoid blood clot resulted in almost complete recovery. A diagnosis of spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage should be considered in any patient who presents with acute back pain and slowly or rapidly progressive neurological signs in the limbs, even when meningism is absent. © The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine, 1985.