Cervical spinal cord neurapraxia in the setting of Klippel-Feil anomaly: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Temple University Children's Medical Center in USA.


OBJECTIVE
To report a patient whose recurrent and transient episodes of quadriplegia mimicked cervical cord neurapraxia. Cervical spine neuroimaging revealed congenital intersegmental fusion of C5 through C7 (consistent with Klippel-Feil anomaly), corresponding abnormal spinal cord signals on T2-weighted images and enhancing focal lesion opposite the C4 vertebral body. A posterior cervical decompression at C4-C5 and lateral mass fixation was performed, and the episodic quadriplegia has not recurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding of the biomechanics of Klippel-Feil anomaly may facilitate prompt referral for surgical management and avoidance of permanent disability.
Gupta
S N
SN
Section of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Piatt
J H
JH
Belay
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D001072:Apraxias / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007714:Klippel-Feil Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053831:Surgical Fixation Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome