Traumatic cervical central cord syndrome due to intramedullary hemorrhage studied with MRI: case presentation

Abstract

Cervical central cord syndrome is characterized by disproportionately greater motor impairment of the upper than the lower extremities, predominantly distal motor dysfunction, varying degrees of sensory abnormalities and bladder dysfunction . Classically it has been stated that traumatic central cord syndrome may be caused by different types of medullar injuries, ranging from edema or concussion, through hematoma or contusion, to ischemia . However, recent studies have not demonstrated the existence of intramedullary hemorrhage or blood products in cases of traumatic cervical central cord syndrome (TCCCS) studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or at autopsy , and have therefore concluded that most probably hemorrhage is not a predominant feature of this syndrome. MRI is the most sensitive diagnostic tool for studying parenchymal spinal cord injuries, and is even more sensitive in detecting blood, especially in the acute phases of injury. We present a case of traumatic central cord syndrome in which acute MRI evaluation showed intramedullary hemorrhage as the main finding