Julio Urrutia1, Ricardo Fadic. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 352, Santiago, Chile. jurrutia@med.puc.cl
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Brown-Sequard syndrome is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by ipsilateral loss of motor function and contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensitivity, reflecting a hemi-compression or hemi-section of the spinal cord. Cervical disc herniation is an exceptional cause of this syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a case of cervical disc herniation causing Brown-Sequard syndrome in a patient with an unusually rapid neurological deterioration associated to cervical extension, which was documented by neuromonitoring. CONCLUSION: A prompt diagnosis, followed by spinal cord decompression should be warranted. Intraoperative neuromonitoring is a useful tool in preservation of neurologic function in these cases.
INTRODUCTION:Brown-Sequard syndrome is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by ipsilateral loss of motor function and contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensitivity, reflecting a hemi-compression or hemi-section of the spinal cord. Cervical disc herniation is an exceptional cause of this syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a case of cervical disc herniation causing Brown-Sequard syndrome in a patient with an unusually rapid neurological deterioration associated to cervical extension, which was documented by neuromonitoring. CONCLUSION: A prompt diagnosis, followed by spinal cord decompression should be warranted. Intraoperative neuromonitoring is a useful tool in preservation of neurologic function in these cases.
Authors: Faisal T Sayer; Aleksander M Vitali; Hu Liang Low; Scott Paquette; Christopher R Honey Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2008-04-20 Impact factor: 3.468