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Case Reports
. 2019 Feb 13;11(2):e4070.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.4070.

Traumatic Ventral Cervical Spinal Cord Herniation: A Case Report

Nicolas K Khattar  1 , Andrew M Donovan  1 , Brent G Oxford  1 , Shawn W C Adams  1 , Thomas J Altstadt  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Traumatic Ventral Cervical Spinal Cord Herniation: A Case Report

Nicolas K Khattar et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Spinal cord herniation (SCH) is an uncommon traumatic event that should be considered in patients with vertebral fractures who develop an unusual constellation of autonomic and motor deficits. Herein, we describe a case of rapidly deteriorating neurological function following cervical spine fracture including sequelae such as bilateral lower-extremity weakness, loss of upper extremity motor function, and priapism. Decompression of the spinal cord allowed for the identification of the unusual herniation of the spinal cord and prevention of any further worsening of the neurological injury. Hyperflexion of the cervical spine upon traumatic impact provided the impetus for vertebral retropulsion and subsequent incarceration of the spinal cord. This phenomenon should be considered in the setting of acute traumatic injury to the cervical spinal cord. Surgical intervention is likely to allow the preservation of the remaining neurological function.

Keywords: cervical spinal cord; herniation; spinal cord injury; trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Cervical spine imaging at presentation
A. Axial CT of the cervical spine at the C6 level showing the vertebral body fracture as well as the laminar fractures; B. Sagittal CT of the cervical spine shows focal kyphotic deformity at the C6 level associated with the burst fracture with significant canal stenosis; C. Axial MRI of the cervical spine shows herniation of the spinal cord into the vertebral body (arrow); D. Sagittal MRI of the cervical spine showing retropulsion of the C6 vertebral body into the spinal canal with significant spinal cord compression. CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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