[Brown-Séquard syndrome after closed injury of the cervical spine].
The case of a Brown-Séquard syndrome at the C5 level, in a 21-year-old young man after a traffic accident is reported. Initially, the symptoms of spinal injury were concealed by those related to head and face trauma. The neurologic assessment showed a hemiplegia located in the same side as the medullar injury with a controlateral thermo-algesic anaesthesia. X-rays, CT-scan and MRI of the cervical spine confirmed the diagnosis. The treatment included the immobilization of the spine combined with i.v. methylprednisolone (bolus of 30 mg.kg-1 followed by a continuous infusion at a rate of 5 mg.kg-1.h-1 for 23 hours). The outcome was favourable. Six weeks later, the patient was again able to walk. However the thermo-algesic anaesthesia remained unchanged. This case report underlines the necessity of a careful and complete neurologic assessment of trauma patients and reminds of the possibility of occurrence of a Brown-Séquard syndrome in them.
Blanck
R
R
Service d'Anesthésie-Réanimation A, Centre Hospitalier Louis-Pasteur, Colmar.
Dietz
J M
JM
Bertschy
M
M
Gschaedler
R
R
Dollfuss
P
P
D000328:Adult; D018437:Brown-Sequard Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications*
D008775:Methylprednisolone
Syndrome de Brown-Séquard après traumatisme fermé du rachis cervical.