Quadriparesis due to intraspinal cyst after failed posterior occipitocervical fusion in a patient with athetoid cerebral palsy.
METHODS
A case report and review of the literature are presented.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical course and treatment of a patient with athetoid cerebral palsy who had quadriparesis due to an intraspinal cyst, following a failed occipitocervical fusion using sublaminar wires and rods.


BACKGROUND
Intraspinal cyst as a cause of quadriparesis in a patient with athetoid cerebral palsy is extremely rare. To our knowledge, there have been no publications on this issue.


METHODS
A 60-year-old man with athetoid cerebral palsy and a history of posterior occipitocervical fusion presented with quadriparesis. Salvage surgery for cervical myelopathy and pseudarthrosis was performed with laminectomy and rearthrodesis using the pedicle screw system. An intraspinal cyst was identified as the main cause of the paraparesis.


RESULTS
Solid bony fusion and the improvement of paraparesis were achieved 2 years and 1 month after the surgery. He is now able to feed himself and to walk with a cane, both without assistance.


CONCLUSIONS
A physician managing patients with athetoid cerebral palsy should always be aware that an intraspinal cyst in the cervical spine may be the cause of cervical myelopathy.
Kikkawa
Jun
J
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan.
Shirado
Osamu
O
Saito
Fuminori
F
Takahashi
Keisuke
K
Oda
Hiromi
H
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects