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Flaccid quadriplegia from tonsillar herniation in pneumococcal meningitis.
- Source :
-
Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia [J Clin Neurosci] 2000 Jul; Vol. 7 (4), pp. 339-41. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- A young woman with fulminant pyogenic meningitis became quadriplegic, areflexic and flaccid due to herniation of the cerebellar tonsils and compression of the upper cervical cord. This state of spinal shock was associated with absent F-waves. Intracranial pressure was greatly elevated and there was an uncertain relationship of tonsillar descent to a preceding lumbar puncture. Partial recovery occurred over 2 years. Tonsillar herniation can cause flaccid quadriplegia that may be mistaken for critical illness polyneuropathy. This case demonstrates cervicomedullary infarction from compression, a mechanism that is more likely than the sometimes proposed infectious vasculitis of the upper cord.<br /> (Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Cerebellar Diseases complications
Cerebellar Diseases pathology
Cerebellum microbiology
Cerebellum physiopathology
Encephalocele complications
Encephalocele pathology
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Quadriplegia pathology
Quadriplegia physiopathology
Recovery of Function
Spinal Cord Compression pathology
Spinal Cord Compression physiopathology
Cerebellar Diseases etiology
Cerebellum pathology
Encephalocele etiology
Meningitis, Pneumococcal complications
Quadriplegia etiology
Spinal Cord Compression etiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0967-5868
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10938617
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1054/jocn.1999.0232