Traumatic retroclival epidural hematoma in a child

Posterior fossa epidural hematomas are seldom encountered and vaguely understood. In this paper, we report on a 10-year-old child experiencing a traumatic retroclival epidural hematoma. A 10-year old boy was involved in a car-to-motorcycle accident. On admission, level of consciousness was assessed 11 on Glasgow Coma Scale. Brain computed tomography revealed a hyperdense lesion in favor of epidural retroclival hematoma mildly compressing the pons. The epidural retroclival hematoma was managed conservatively with close clinical observation. The level of consciousness improved after 8 hours. The patient then complained of headache; however, they had no sign or symptoms of neurologic deficits. Eventually, a repeat CT-Scan was obtained before discharge on day 6, which demonstrated partial resolution of the hemorrhage. Three and nine months later, follow-up physical examinations and CT-Scans demonstrated no new neurological deficits and revealed gradual resolution of the hematoma. Our observations that conservative treatment with close clinical monitoring and serial recording of CT-Scans are the mainstay of management are not new but agree with earlier studies.