Telogen effluvium: hair loss after spinal cord injury

A 26-year-old man sustained a C5 complete spinal cord injury (SCI) and displayed hysteric behavior which continued into the fourth month of hospitalization. Four months after injury, sudden loss of scalp hair was noted, consistent with psychogenic telogen effluvium. Other causes of hair loss were ruled out. During the sixth month, peak hair loss was noted over the back of the head. Four months after peak shedding, the loss of young club hairs was no longer observed. Recovery was complete seven months after peak loss, leaving a smaller permanent area of diffuse hair loss over the occiput. This pattern of hair loss has not been described previously in association with SCI.