Complete motor recovery after acute paraparesis caused by spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a relatively rare but potentially disabling disease. Prompt timely surgical management may promote recovery even in severe cases.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a 34-year-old man with a 2-hour history of sudden severe back pain, followed by weakness and numbness over the bilateral lower limbs, progressing to intense paraparesis and anesthesia. A spinal magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed and revealed an anterior epidural hematoma of the thoracic spine. He underwent an emergency decompression laminectomy of the thoracic spine and hematoma evacuation. Just after surgery, his lower extremity movements improved. After 1 week, there was no residual weakness and ambulation without assistance was resumed, with residual paresthesia on the plantar face of both feet. After 5 months, no residual symptoms persisted.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The diagnosis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma must be kept in mind in cases of sudden back pain with symptoms of spinal cord compression. Early recognition, accurate diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment may result in significant improvement even in severe cases.</p

A cidadania sob o signo do desvio: Para uma crítica da "tese de excepcionalidade brasileira"

O propósito central do artigo consiste em realizar uma consideração crítica do que denominamos de "tese da excepcionalidade normativa brasileira". As duas principais questões orientadoras são: em primeiro lugar, haveria alguma desvantagem, do ponto de vista analítico, em manter-se orientado pela noção conforme a qual a experiência da cidadania no Brasil é algo particular em relação ao "centro da modernidade"? Em segundo lugar, é possível vislumbrar outra maneira profícua de refletir a respeito da experiência da cidadania no Brasil para além da "tese da excepcionalidade normativa"?<br>This article aims at carrying out a critique of the so-called "thesis of the Brazilian normative exceptionality". The two driving questions are: first and foremost, is there any disadvantage, from an analytical point of view, in remaining oriented by the notion according to which the experience of citizenship in Brazil is something peculiar as compared to the "nucleus of modernity"? Secondly, is it possible to envisage another fruitful way of framing such an experience which goes beyond the "exceptionality thesis"