Transient tetraplegia and vegetative dysfunction depending on cervical positioning caused by a cervical spinal chordoma.

Schulte, T L; Hammersen, S; Heidenreich, J O; Pietilä, T A · Acta Neurochir (Wien) · 2006

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A 39-year-old man with acquired torticollis suffering from cervicobrachialgia and neurological deficits is presented. Due to a change in head position a transient reproducible tetraplegia and severe vegetative dysfunctions were caused. The origin of this uncommon serious combination of symptoms and signs was a chordoma of the upper cervical spine. After surgical decompression the patient was free of neurological deficit and pain. Review of the literature did not reveal any similar case.

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