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synonyms:transient quadriplegia, cervical cord neuropraxia
ICD-10
Etiology / Epidemiology / Natural History
- Acute transient neuroligic deficit (sensory and/or motor) after forced hyperflexion, hyperextion, or axial load to the cervical spine.
- Symptoms are transient and generally resolve over 10-15 minutes; may gradually resolve over 48 hours.
Anatomy
Clinical Evaluation
- Burning pain, numbness, weakness or complete paralysis involving both arms, legs or all four extremities.
Xray / Diagnositc Tests
- C-spine films indicated. Should be normal except for cervical spinal stenosis.
- Pavlov ratio >0.80 indicates spinal canal narrowing. Ratio is the distance from the posterior aspect of the vertebral body to the spinolaminar line divided by the anteroposterior width of the vertebral body.
Classification / Treatment
Associated Injuries / Differential Diagnosis
Complications
Follow-up Care
- Rate of recurrence in tackle football = 56%. Patients with smaller canal diameter have increased risk of recurrence (Torg JS, J Neurosurgery 1997;87:843).
- Cervical neuropraxia has not been shown to be predisposed to permanent neurologic injury.
Review References
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