Ann Rehabil Med.  2015 Feb;39(1):146-149. 10.5535/arm.2015.39.1.146.

Traumatic Atypical Tetraplegia Without Radiologic Abnormalities Including Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Adult: A Case Report

• Park JW
• Lee YG
• Choi YH
• Seo JW
• Lee SM
• Kim JI
• Ko YJ

• KMID: 2273033
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.1.146

Abstract

Although spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) literally refers to the specific type of spinal cord injury, however, some extents of spinal cord injuries can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in most of cases. We introduce an atypical case of spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality. A 42-year-old male tetraplegic patient underwent MRI and computed tomography, and no specific lesions were found in any segments of the spinal cord. Moreover, the tetraplegic patient showed normal urodynamic function despite severe paralysis and absent somatosensory evoked potentials from the lower limbs.

Keyword

Spinal cord injuries; Magnetic resonance imaging; Somatosensory evoked potentials

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
Humans
Lower Extremity
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Paralysis
Quadriplegia*
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Urodynamics

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Initial sagittal (A) and axial (B, C) T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of C-spine. Image shows no definite evidence of cord signal intensity change in the entire spinal cord (A), only right foraminal disc herniation of C5-C6 (B), and left foraminal disc herniation of C6-C7 (C).

• 

  Fig. 2 Follow-up sagittal (A) and axial (B, C) T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging findings of C-spine (after 16 weeks). Image still shows no definite evidence of cord signal intensity change in the entire spinal cord (A), no significant change in disc herniation of C5-C6 and C6-C7 (B, C).

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