Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta presenting as transient paraplegia.
A patient involved in a high-speed motor vehicle accident presented paraplegic to the emergency department. He was noted to have an abnormal chest x-ray and, subsequently, underwent aortography which revealed aortic transection. The patient's paraplegia resolved spontaneously prior to definitive aortic repair hours later. Aortic rupture presenting as paraplegia is a rare association, but one an emergency physician should be cognizant of, especially in the case of blunt or decelerating trauma.
Eaves
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CC
Emergency Medical Services, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
D000293:Adolescent; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male