Brown-Sequard syndrome produced by cervical disc herniation: case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: The Brown-Sequard Syndrome is most commonly described in conjunction with a traumatic injury to the spinal cord. the condition involves ipsilateral loss of motor function, proprioception, and vibratory sensation, combined with contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation.

Case report: A 56 year-old female developed left thigh discomfort and numbness. Over the next five months, this spread to involve her left leg and chest to the axilla. Physical examination revealed myelopathy. Also present were motor, proprioceptive, and vibratory deficits in the right leg. A left sensory level to T2 was present. An MRI scan showed a large right cervical herniated disc with unilateral spinal cord compression. Following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, the patient's symptoms have steadily improved.

Conclusions: The Brown-Sequard Syndrome can be caused by a herniated cervical disc. MRI scans should be employed early in the diagnostic evaluation of such patients, particularly in the absence of penetrating trauma or other obvious causes of the syndrome.