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Transient Quadriplegia: A Case-Based Approach to Cervical Trauma
Raymond Jabola1, Benjamin Boswell1, Robert H Lutz2
1Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
|August 26, 2021
Summary
Transient quadriplegia after a football collision highlights the need for emergency physicians to carefully assess potential spinal cord injuries. Prompt evaluation using clinical decision tools and imaging is crucial for proper patient disposition.
Area of Science:
- Sports medicine
- Neurology
- Emergency medicine
Background:
- Spinal cord injuries frequently lead to emergency department (ED) visits.
- Sports-related spinal injuries are less common than those from vehicle accidents, violence, or falls.
- Cervical spine injuries require prompt medical attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of transient quadriplegia in a young athlete.
- To emphasize the importance of recognizing potential spinal cord injuries in sports-related trauma.
- To highlight the role of emergency physicians in managing these injuries.
Main Methods:
- Case report methodology.
- Description of a 17-year-old male patient presenting to the ED.
- Details of a helmet-to-helmet collision during a football game.
Main Results:
- The patient experienced transient quadriplegia following the collision.
- The injury occurred during a football game.
- The case underscores the potential for serious neurological deficits in sports.
Conclusions:
- Emergency physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for spinal cord injuries.
- Clinical decision tools are essential for evaluating patients with suspected cervical spine injury.
- Radiologic imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis and management of spinal cord injuries.
