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Related Experiment Videos

Flexed neck posture due to cervical posttraumatic syringomyelia.

J H Frisbie1, E J Aguilera, D Foo

  • 1Spinal Cord Injury and Neurology Services, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Brockton/West Roxbury, MA.

The Journal of the American Paraplegia Society
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Quadriplegic patients may develop a flexed neck posture due to posttraumatic syringomyelia (PTS). This condition involves neck weakness and pain, potentially preceding or following other neurological deficits.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background:

  • Posttraumatic syringomyelia (PTS) can manifest years after spinal cord injury.
  • Quadriplegia presents unique challenges for patients, including potential secondary complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between flexed neck posture and posttraumatic syringomyelia in quadriplegic patients.
  • To identify the clinical and diagnostic features of this specific manifestation of PTS.

Main Methods:

  • Case study of three quadriplegic patients presenting with flexed neck posture.
  • Clinical assessment including muscle testing and patient-reported symptoms (neck weakness, pain).
  • Electromyography (EMG) of cervical paraspinal muscles and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine and medulla.

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Main Results:

  • Flexed neck posture developed 1-20 years post-spinal cord injury in all patients.
  • Patients reported progressive neck weakness with prolonged sitting and experienced neck pain.
  • EMG showed chronic denervation/reinnervation in cervical paraspinal muscles; MRI revealed high cervical syrinx extending to the medulla.
  • Neck weakness preceded or followed neurological deficit ascent in different cases.

Conclusions:

  • Flexed neck posture can be a manifestation of high cervical syringomyelia in quadriplegic individuals.
  • This posture may result from impaired stamina in denervated neck musculature.
  • Flexed neck posture can serve as an early or late sign of PTS, independent of conventional deficit progression.