Ann Rehabil Med.  2011 Aug;35(4):570-573. 10.5535/arm.2011.35.4.570.

Prolotherapy-induced Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

• Yun HS
• Sun HS
• Seon HJ
• Han JY
• Choi IS
• Lee SG

• KMID: 1971725
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2011.35.4.570

Abstract

A 49-year-old man received prolotherapy in the upper cervical region at a local medical clinic. Immediately after the procedure, he felt a sensation resembling an electric shock in his right upper and lower extremities, and continuously complained of numbness and discomfort in the right hemibody. He visited our clinic a week later. Upon physical examination, there were no significant abnormal findings. The visual analog scale was 60 points. T2-weight magnetic resonance images of the cervical spine showed a 0.7 cm sized bright oval spot on the right side of the spinal cord at the level of C4-C5 disc, suggesting spinal cord injury. There were no definite electrodiagnostic abnormalities. Digital infrared thermal images showed moderately decreased surface temperature on lateral aspect of the right forearm and dorsum of the right hand compared with the other side. Considering that very rare complications like spinal cord injury may develop after prolotherapy, we suggest that special interventions such as prolotherapy be performed by professional experts.

Keyword

Spinal cord injury; Complications; Malpractice

MeSH Terms

Forearm
Hand
Humans
Hypesthesia
Lower Extremity
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Malpractice
Middle Aged
Physical Examination
Sensation
Shock
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Digital infrared thermal images show moderately decreased surface temperature on lateral aspect of right forearm and dorsum of right hand (arrow) compared with the other side. (A) anterior view; (B) posterior view.

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  Fig. 2 Magnetic resonance images of the cervical spine: T2-weighted sagittal image (A) and T2-weighted axial image (B) show 0.7 cm sized bright oval spot (arrow) on the right side of the spinal cord at the level of the C4-C5 disc.

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