Autonomic dysreflexia after intramuscular injection in traumatic tetraplegia: a case report

Abstract

Autonomic dysreflexia is a syndrome of massive imbalance of reflex sympathetic discharge occurring in patients with spinal cord lesion above the splanchnic outflow (T6). It is characterized by a sudden onset and severe increase in blood pressure and is potentially life threatening. The most common causes are bladder and rectum distention. In this case study, we report an autonomic dysreflexia case that developed after intramuscular injection in a 29-yr-old tetraplegic patient with C5 American Spinal Injury Association grade A lesion. After careful scrutiny of English literature, this clinical manifestation seems to be an unusual event.