Pontomedullary infarction from sustained cervical spine hyperflexion.
A paraplegic but independent 26-year-old man developed pontomedullary infarction from a fall which placed him in a position of sustained cervical spine hyperflexion. An early noncontrast computed tomography scan displayed infarction of the pontomedullary region. The patient made partial recovery of his neurologic deficits. The infarct was thought to arise from compromise of blood flow through the vertebrobasilar vessels during hyperflexion of the cervical spine. The mechanisms that impeded blood flow in the vertebrobasilar territory and the prognostic factors of ischemic infarction in this area are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata; D011149:Pons; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology