Spinal cord injury by a stab wound and Brown Séquard syndrome: Case report

• Autor: Casallo Quiliano, Carlos
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2012
• Institución: Colegio Médico del Perú
• Repositorio: Acta Médica Peruana
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:amp.cmp.org.pe:article/1173
• Enlace del recurso: https://amp.cmp.org.pe/index.php/AMP/article/view/1173
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: resonancia magnética nuclear Síndrome de Brown-Séquard; traumatismos de la médula espinal; médula espinal; Brown-Sequard Syndrome; Spinal Cord Injuries; spinal cord

Introduction: It is unusual to observe the occurrence of Brown Séquard syndrome as a consequence of a lateral hemisection of the spinal cord caused by a stab wound. We report a case of this syndrome showing its typical presentation. Clinical Case: A male, 18-year old subject was attacked and suffered a stab wound in his right cervical area. The patient developed ipsilateral hemiparesis, an ipsilateral proprioception disturbance and a contralateral thermo-algesic disturbance. Image studies showed a laminar fracture in C6 and spinal edema in the same area. The patient underwent a C6-laminectomy. Three months after surgery, his neurological condition improved. Conclusions: It is unusual to observe the occurrence of Brown Séquard syndrome in its so-called classical or 'pure' form caused by a stab wound. The mandatory image study to perform in these cases is magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical therapy should be immediately performed only if there is evidence of a bone or metal fragment in the spinal canal, or if there is a hematoma in this area.