Central cord syndrome in a 7-year-old boy secondary to standing high jump

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Acute traumatic central cord syndrome (CCS) typically results from severe trauma.
• Minor or non-traumatic causes of CCS are rare, especially in children.
• Physicians may miss CCS in pediatric patients with arm weakness if major trauma is absent.

Observation:

• A 7-year-old boy presented with bilateral arm weakness after a standing high jump with neck extension.
• No history of significant trauma or bone abnormalities was noted on initial imaging (radiography, CT).
• Cervical spine MRI revealed C1-4 swelling and signal changes, indicative of spinal cord injury.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates spinal cord injury from a non-traumatic event (standing high jump with neck extension).
• Cervical spine MRI confirmed central cord syndrome without evidence of fracture or major instability.
• This highlights a rare mechanism of injury in pediatric central cord syndrome.

Implications:

• Clinicians must consider central cord syndrome in children with arm weakness, even without a clear major trauma history.
• Cervical spine MRI is crucial for diagnosing spinal cord injury in ambiguous pediatric cases.
• Awareness of non-traumatic mechanisms is vital for timely diagnosis and management of pediatric spinal cord injuries.