A case of pediatric thoracic SCIWORA following minor trauma

Case report: A case of spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA) at the thoracic level is reported. A 14-year-old girl fell backwards from a low chair and hit her back on the floor. It left her bent forward markedly. After taking a nap, she found herself unable to walk. Neurological examination revealed flaccid paraparesis, hypalgesia below the L-1 level, and bladder and bowel dysfunction. MR imaging revealed marked edema in the thoracic spinal cord. Results and conclusion: The patient was treated conservatively and showed gradual improvement in her symptoms, finally becoming independently ambulant. The spinal cord edema was less pronounced on the follow-up MR imaging. The clinical course and findings of MR imaging in this case demonstrated mid-thoracic SCIWORA caused by hyperflexion of the thoracic spine.