Cervical myelopathy in a special operations soldier.
The patient was a 31-year-old man who was currently serving in a military special operations combat unit. He was evaluated by a physical therapist for a chief complaint of upper extremity weakness and decreased hand dexterity bilaterally. Due to strong suspicion of spinal cord involvement, the physical therapist ordered magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed advanced degenerative changes of the cervical spine and a large disc extrusion at C5-C6.
THOR3 Rehabilitation Coordinator, US Army Special Operations Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
Warren
W
Flautt
Richard
R
Westrick
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
arm; cervical spine; hand; magnetic resonance imaging; spine; upper extremity