Korean J Neurotrauma.  2015 Oct;11(2):180-182. 10.13004/kjnt.2015.11.2.180.

Brown-Sequard Syndrome after an Accidental Stab Injury of Cervical Spine: A Case Report

• Park SD
• Kim SW
• Jeon I

• KMID: 2378283
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2015.11.2.180

Abstract

We report a case of Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) caused by an accidental stab injury of the cervical spine that shows clear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical presentation. A 42-year-old woman was brought into the emergency department after a stab injury on the right side of the posterior neck from a knife that was lying in a fruit basket after slipping. The patient complained of hemiparesis of the right-side extremities, and ipsilateral hypoesthesia and contralateral sensory loss of pain and temperature were also found on neurological examination. MRI showed a signal change of the C6-7 cord level and the tract of the stab wound through the posterior neck. Irrigation and primary closure of the laceration was performed under the impression of BSS. The neurologic deficit was improved with rehabilitation therapy.

Keyword

Brown-Sequard syndrome; Cervical vertebrae; Spinal cord injuries

MeSH Terms

Adult
Brown-Sequard Syndrome*
Cervical Vertebrae
Deception
Emergency Service, Hospital
Extremities
Female
Fruit
Humans
Hypesthesia
Lacerations
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neck
Neurologic Examination
Neurologic Manifestations
Paresis
Rehabilitation
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spine*
Wounds, Stab

Figure

• 

  FIGURE 1 A lacerated wound in the right posterior cervical region, measuring 3 cm in length is shown.

• 

  FIGURE 2 A: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals an injured tract, through the posterior neck (arrow). B: MRI reveals disruption of the C6-7 interlaminar structures and ligamentum flavum (arrow). C: There is high signal intensity lesion at cervical spinal cord in T2-weighted MRI (arrows). D: Axial T2-weighted MRI also shows injured tract and signal change in the spinal cord.

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