Traumatic retroclival hematoma

Traumatic retroclival hematomas are a rare entity.

Typically, they are epidural hematomas in pediatric patients.

Subdural hematomas and adult cases are sporadic. The 35 reported cases include 27 pediatric cases of epidural hematoma, 2 pediatric cases of subdural hematoma, 4 adult cases of epidural hematoma and 2 adult cases of subdural hematoma ^{1) 2) 3) 4) 5)}.

They are usually epidural hematomas (being the tectorial membrane the anterior anatomical limit) diagnosed in children in the context of high-energy trauma, typically motor vehicle accidents. Lesion mechanism is considered to be a cervical flexion–extension injury in the pediatric spine that combines ligamentous laxity and high fulcrum movement in the craniocervical junction. In children, associated atlanto-occipital dislocation and systemic injuries have been reported in a significant number of cases, but not as a constant, sine qua non association ⁶⁾.