ABSTRACT
The incidence of lateral medullary infarction is higher in clinical practice,which is mainly manifested as crossed sensory dysfunction .while the lateral medullary infarction with segmental development of sensory level is rare and easily confused with myelopathy. In this paper,we report the clinical data of a patient with lateral medullary infarction resembling myelopathy,and analyzes the classification,infarct site, responsible vessel,etiology,treatment and prognosis of lateral medullary infarction with sensory dysfunction level in combination with previous literature,so as to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of similar cases.
ABSTRACT
Symptoms of compressive cervical myelopathy classically include spasticity and weakness, predominantly involving the lower extremities. Sensory abnormalities are reportedly common in the upper extremities, but are often vague or misleading. The sensory findings are usually localized 2-3 spinal segments below the actual spinal cord compression. In our current series, 3 patients presented with progressive symptoms of weakness and hyperreflexia involving the lower extremities without upper extremity symptoms and with a distant thoracic sensory level ranging from T10 to T12. All 3 patients were eventually found to have a cervical herniated intervertebral disc. The direct physical effects of compression and vascular compromise in the central cervical cord compression may be responsible for the reported abnormality at a distinct thoracic sensory level. Failure to diagnose cervical myelopathy because of the presence of a thoracic sensory level can delay appropriate treatment or lead to incorrect therapy.