Central cord syndrome following assault and subsequent resuscitation

Following physical assault, a 71-year-old male suffered apparent cardio-respiratory arrest. Bystander basic life support was provided. Advanced life support including endotracheal intubation was subsequently provided. The patient sustained an injury to the cervical spinal cord, manifesting as central cord syndrome. Central cord syndrome is a rare complication of endotracheal intubation and there is no published description following physical assault. This case illustrates that determining precise causality with respect to cervical cord injury may be difficult following standard resuscitation procedures. The pathophysiology of central cord syndrome is reviewed and the possible mechanism in this case, which was the subject of considerable legal debate, is also examined.