Asian Spine J.  2013 Jun;7(2):126-130. 10.4184/asj.2013.7.2.126.

A Rare Hyperextension Injury in Thoracic Spine Presenting with Delayed Paraplegia

• Shin DE
• Nam KS
• Yoon HK
• Lee JK
• Cha YS

• KMID: 2048102
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2013.7.2.126

Abstract

Hyperextension injury in the thoracic spine is uncommon with only a few cases documented in the literature. The mechanism of these injuries is hyperextension combined with axial or shearing force. These types of injuries are associated with a high risk of dural tears and paraplegia. A 91-year-old female presented with acute back pain from a hyperextension injury in thoracic spine with no neurological deficit. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed a intervertebral disc rupture. On day 20 of hospitalization, the herniated intervertebral disc compressed the spinal cord with incomplete paraplegia. Hyperextension injuries involving the three columns are very unstable and we recommend surgical treatment as soon as possible, not only because of the initial trauma, but a ruptured disc herniation can damage the spinal cord.

Keyword

Thoracic Vertebrae; Paraplegia; Disc herniation

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Intervertebral Disc
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Paraplegia
Rupture
Spinal Cord
Spine
Thoracic Vertebrae