An interesting case of autonomic dysreflexia

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is not an uncommon clinical condition and it is usually detected in patients with complete spinal injuries at or above thoracic 6th vertebral level (T 6). This condition is reported to occur in 48- 60% of cases of spinal cord injury at or above the level of T6. But AD due to injury below T6 is rare. The basic mechanism is thought to be due to excessive, uncontrolled activation of sympathetic system. In the present case, we discuss a persistent AD in 55-yr-old tetraplegic patient with C5 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade A lesion due to a fall from 10 metre height. MRI examination showed C5 and C6 bi-facets fracture and dislocation with canal compromise. Wiring and fusion was performed but recurrent mucous plugging and aspiration pneumonia and urinary tract infection happened during the hospital stay. Three months later, he was re-admitted with multiple pressure sores, pneumonia, sepsis and high blood pressure. He was administered with nifedepine but the blood pressure kept fluctuating. The present study highlights how the precipitating factors like concomitant urinary tract infection, decubitus ulcers, spasticity triggered the AD attack. The knowledge of the AD and its proper diagnosis and management may be beneficial to all clinicians and the present article attempts to highlight such.