Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD
Educational Pearls:
What is Central Cord Syndrome (CCS)?
Incomplete spinal cord injury caused by trauma that compresses the center of the cord
More common in hyperextension injuries like falling and hitting the chin
Usually happens only in individuals with preexisting neck and spinal cord conditions like cervical spondylosis (age-related wear and tear of the cervical spine)
Anatomy of spinal cord
Motor tracts
The signals the brain sends for the muscles to move travel in the corticospinal tracts of the spinal cord
The tracts that control the upper limbs are more central than the ones that control the lower limbs
The tracts that control the hands are more central than the ones that control the upper arm/shoulder
Fine touch, vibration, and proprioception (body position) tracts
These sensations travel in separate tracts in the spinal cord than the sensation of pain and temperature
Their pathway is called the dorsal column-medial lemniscus (DCML) pathway
This information travels in the most posterior aspect of the spinal cord
Pain, crude touch, pressure, and temperature tracts
These sensations travel in the spinothalamic tract, which is more centrally located
These signals also cross one side of the body to the other within the spinal cord near the level that they enter
How does this anatomy affect the presentation of CCS?
Patients typically experience more pronounced weakness or paralysis in their upper extremities as compared to their lower extremities with their hands being weaker than more proximal muscle groups
Sensation of pain, crude touch, pressure, and temperature are much morelikely to be diminished while the sensation of fine touch, vibration, and proprioception are spared
What happens with reflexes?
Deep tendon reflexes become exaggerated in CCS
This is because the disruption in the corticospinal tract removes inhibitory control over reflex arcs
What happens to bladder control?
The neural signals that coordinate bladder emptying are disrupted, therefore patients can present with urinary retention and/or urge incontinence
What is a Babinski's Sign?
When the sole of the foot is stimulated a normal response in adults is for the toes to flex downward (plantar flexion)
If there is an upper motor neuron injury like in CCS, the toes will flex upwards (dorsiflexion)
How is CCS diagnosed?
CCS is mostly a clinical diagnosis
These patient also need an MRI to see the extent of the damage which will show increased signal intensity within the central part of the spinal cord on T2-weighted images
How is CCS treated?
Strict c-spine precautions
Neurogenic shock precautions. Maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 85-90 to ensure profusion of the spinal cord
Levophed (norepinephrine bitartrate) and/or phenylephrine can be used to support their blood pressure to support spinal perfusion
Consider intubation for injuries above C5 (C3, 4, and 5 keep the diaphragm alive)
Consult neurosurgery for possible decompression surgery
Physical Therapy
References
Avila, M. J., & Hurlbert, R. J. (2021). Central Cord Syndrome Redefined. Neurosurgery clinics of North America, 32(3), 353–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2021.03.007
Brooks N. P. (2017). Central Cord Syndrome. Neurosurgery clinics of North America, 28(1), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2016.08.002
Engel-Haber, E., Snider, B., & Kirshblum, S. (2023). Central cord syndrome definitions, variations and limitations. Spinal cord, 61(11), 579–586. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-023-00894-2
Summarized by Jeffrey Olson, MS3 | Edited by Jorge Chalit, OMS3
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