Back to Search
Start Over
White Cord Syndrome Following Long Posterior Decompression.
- Source :
-
Journal of orthopaedic case reports [J Orthop Case Rep] 2024 Sep; Vol. 14 (9), pp. 14-18. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Ischemia/reperfusion cascade can cause severe tissue damage as documented in myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral occlusive vascular; however, Chin et al. first identified unexplained neurological deterioration after decompressive spinal surgery and attributed this to reperfusion injury of the spinal cord. As this appears as hyperintense signal changes in post-operative T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) sequences, it is termed as "white cord syndrome."<br />Case Report: A 63-year-old man presented with cervical myelopathy due to an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament and ossified ligamentum flavum, having Nurick's Grade IV posted for surgery. The patient underwent posterior instrumented decompression from 2nd cervical to 5th dorsal spine. Postoperatively, he had neurological deterioration and was investigated and found to have extensive cervical cord edema on MRI. There was no implant malposition.<br />Conclusion: WCS has to be ruled out in a case of unexplained neurological deterioration after decompressive spinal surgery, especially in the cervical and dorsal spine. The exact mechanism and treatment of WCS remain unexplained; spine surgeons should warn patients about WCS before surgery to prevent ethical and medicolegal issues.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Nil<br /> (Copyright: © Indian Orthopaedic Research Group.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2250-0685
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of orthopaedic case reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39253650
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.13107/jocr.2024.v14.i09.4712