title: A Delayed Postoperative C5 Palsy due to Spinal Cord Lesion: A Typical Clinical Presentation but Unusual Imaging Findings.
abstract: Postoperative C5 palsy (C5 palsy) is a troublesome complication after cervical spine surgery and its etiology is still unclear. We experienced a case of C5 palsy after anterior decompression with fusion for cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament with the typical clinical presentation of left deltoid and bicep weakness and left-arm pain without deterioration of myelopathy symptoms, albeit with the unusual imaging findings not shown preoperatively of a swelling in the spinal cord, and intramedullary high intensity change on T2-weighed MRI. The additional posterior surgery was carried out to decompress the swollen spinal cord. The abnormal findings disappear on MRI taken three weeks following the second surgery and the weakness improved fully within three months after the second surgery. This case report highlights the possibility of spinal cord lesion due to circulatory impairment as a cause of C5 palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4203-2006
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tadokoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiyasu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takemasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi