title: An Australian case of surfer's myelopathy.
abstract: Surfer's myelopathy is a rare, nontraumatic spinal cord injury that typically occurs in beginner surfers. The condition was first described in 2004 by Thompson et al and usually presents in thin young men. We present a 19-year-old man who developed lower back pain, profound bilateral lower limb paraparesis, and hyperesthesia during his first learn to surf class. The event was not associated with trauma. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated features consistent with spinal cord ischemia. The motor recovery due to surfer's myelopathy is variable; our case remained a paraplegic with a T10 sensory level.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Medicine Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. cfessa@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Chris K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fessa
authors.forename: Bon San Bonne
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D006941:Hyperesthesia / Q000175:diagnosis; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics