Brown-Sequard syndrome associated with Horner's syndrome after a penetrating trauma at the cervicomedullary junction.

• Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Case report of a 21-year-old man that had concurrence of Brown-Sequard syndrome and Horner's syndrome after a penetrating trauma in the neck. OBJECTIVES: This report analyzes the location of lesions that cause a combination of Horner's and Brown-Sequard syndrome. It is important to know the anatomic structure of spinal cord and the sympathetic nerve chain. SETTING: Spinal Cord Unit, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. METHODS: Description of a single patient case report. RESULTS: The clinical findings and MRI showed a good correlation. The Horner's syndrome was confirmed with a 4% cocaine test. The patient received a conservative treatment with high-dose steroid therapy (NASCIS-3). CONCLUSION: The patient presented with Brown-Sequard syndrome and Horner's syndrome. Clinical examination and MRI made a quick and correct diagnosis. The patient recovered completely after the conservative treatment.
• Authors: M D García-Manzanares, J I Belda-Sanchis, M Giner-Pascual, I Miguel-Leon, M Delgado-Calvo, J L Alió y Sanz (Affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.)
• Journal: Spinal cord : the official journal of the International Medical Society of Paraplegia (Spinal Cord) Vol. 38 Issue 11 Pg. 705-7 (Nov 2000) ISSN: 1362-4393 [Print] England
• PMID: 11114780 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Cocaine

Topics

• Adult
• Brown-Sequard Syndrome (drug therapy, etiology)
• Cervical Vertebrae
• Cocaine (diagnostic use)
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Horner Syndrome (diagnosis, etiology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Medulla Oblongata (injuries)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (complications, diagnosis)
• Wounds, Penetrating (complications, diagnosis)