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.
Emergency Medical Services, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
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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