Traumatic decerebrate rigidity and neurological recovery: a case report

Trauma is the most common cause of decerebrate rigidity (DR). DR has been incorrectly equated with extensor posturing alone, however, and the "classical" criteria of decerebration generally have not been incorporated in the neurological evaluation of head-injured patients. A high mortality rate is associated with extensor posturing in head injury, and there have been few reports detailing neurological recovery and the quality of survival of patients with traumatic DR. The criteria of Sherrington are applied to a case of DR caused by midbrain injury, accompanied by mild, diffuse, hemispheric white matter changes shown on computed tomographic scan. The neurological examination and recovery are discussed. The literature is reviewed and the potential of DR in the prognosis of head injury is suggested.