Transient tetraplegia and vegetative dysfunction depending on cervical positioning caused by a cervical spinal chordoma.
A 39-year-old man with acquired torticollis suffering from cervicobrachialgia and neurological deficits is presented. Due to a change in head position a transient reproducible tetraplegia and severe vegetative dysfunctions were caused. The origin of this uncommon serious combination of symptoms and signs was a chordoma of the upper cervical spine. After surgical decompression the patient was free of neurological deficit and pain. Review of the literature did not reveal any similar case.
Schulte
T L
TL
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. dr.tobias.schulte@web.de
Hammersen
S
S
Heidenreich
J O
JO
Pietilä
T A
TA
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002817:Chordoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000209:etiology*; D011187:Posture; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014103:Torticollis / Q000209:etiology*