Blunt cervical spine trauma as a cause of spinal cord injury and delayed cortical blindness.
METHODS
Case report.


OBJECTIVE
To present and discuss the case of a patient who sustained a significant flexion compression injury of the cervical spine with resulting tetraplegia and development of cortical blindness.


METHODS
National Spinal Injuries Unit and Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.


METHODS
Clinical and radiological follow-up of the patient.


RESULTS
Cortical blindness resulted from vertebral artery dissection associated with blunt cervical spine trauma. The patient is registered blind and is ventilator dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential complications of blunt vertebral artery injury remain poorly recognised. Screening is routinely not performed. Advances in noninvasive radiological techniques may result in recognition of asymptomatic disease and the potential for therapeutic intervention.
McCormick
M T
MT
Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Robinson
H K
HK
Bone
I
I
McLean
A N
AN
Allan
D B
DB
D000328:Adult; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004242:Diving / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000150:complications