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Iran J Neurosurg 2025, 11 - Continuous Publishing: 0-0 |
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Köksal V, Demirel C, Van M, Tomakin F, Engin R. A Rare Case of Adult Thoracic SCIWORA: Complete Cord Transection Without Vertebral Injury. Iran J Neurosurg 2025; 11
URL: http://irjns.org/article-1-496-en.html
URL: http://irjns.org/article-1-496-en.html
1- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun University, Samsun, Türkey.
Abstract: (7 Views)
Background and Importance: Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is predominantly reported in pediatric populations, especially involving the cervical spine. In adults, particularly in the thoracic region, such injuries are exceedingly rare due to the biomechanical rigidity of the thoracic vertebrae. This case report presents an adult patient with a complete spinal cord transection at the T7–T8 level in the absence of any vertebral fracture or dislocation.
Case Presentation: A 25-year-old male was admitted to the intensive care unit following a highenergy motor vehicle accident. Although the initial computed tomography (CT) of the thoracic spine showed no signs of vertebral injury, the patient developed complete paraplegia upon regaining consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a full-thickness transection of the spinal cord at the T7–T8 level. No surgical intervention was indicated due to the absence of compressive or unstable elements.
Conclusion: Adult thoracic SCIWORA is an exceptionally rare clinical entity. In cases of severe neurological deficit with negative radiographs and CT scans, a prompt MRI is crucial for diagnosis. This case highlights the need for refined classification systems that incorporate MRI findings and biomechanical assessments to characterize such presentations better and inform clinical management.
Case Presentation: A 25-year-old male was admitted to the intensive care unit following a highenergy motor vehicle accident. Although the initial computed tomography (CT) of the thoracic spine showed no signs of vertebral injury, the patient developed complete paraplegia upon regaining consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a full-thickness transection of the spinal cord at the T7–T8 level. No surgical intervention was indicated due to the absence of compressive or unstable elements.
Conclusion: Adult thoracic SCIWORA is an exceptionally rare clinical entity. In cases of severe neurological deficit with negative radiographs and CT scans, a prompt MRI is crucial for diagnosis. This case highlights the need for refined classification systems that incorporate MRI findings and biomechanical assessments to characterize such presentations better and inform clinical management.
Keywords: Spinal cord injury, SCIWORA, Thoracic spine, Adult trauma, Spinal cord transection, Magnetic resonance imaging
Type of Study: Case report |
Subject:
Spine
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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
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