Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormalities caused by rotation-stretching injury manifesting as Brown-Sequard syndrome: a case report

Authors

  • Wentao Zhong Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
  • Mengyang Pu Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
  • Yu Zhang Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
  • Peng Zhang Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
  • Yixin Shen Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.7779

Keywords:

SCIWORA, Brown-Sequard syndrome, Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is a term that denotes clinical symptoms of traumatic myelopathy without radiographic or computed tomographic features of vertebral fracture or instability. However, SCIWORA in adults is very rare, especially that involving the thoracic spine.

We describe the case of a 38-year-old man who complained of weakness in the right lower extremity for two hours. The injury occurred due to rapid spinal cord rotation-stretching. The patient was diagnosed with SCIWORA at the T4 level, manifesting as Brown-Sequard syndrome (BBS). Finally, he was able to walk independently without assistance after two-month treatment.

SCIWORA due to spinal cord rotation-stretching injury, manifesting as BSS, is a very rare mechanism of injury. When X-ray and CT scans rule out the diagnosis of spinal fractures, SCIWORA should be suspected.

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Published

2023-07-15

How to Cite

Zhong, W., Pu, M., Zhang, Y., Zhang, P., & Shen, Y. (2023). Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormalities caused by rotation-stretching injury manifesting as Brown-Sequard syndrome: a case report. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 73(8), 1732–1734. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.7779

Issue

Vol. 73 No. 8 (2023): AUGUST

Section

Case Report

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.