Brown syndrome is caused by a malfunction of the superior oblique muscle, causing the eye to have difficulty moving up, particularly during adduction when eye turns towards the nose. A 71yearold, righthanded woman had right shoulder pain of sudden onset, with radiation into the forearm and hand, rapidly followed by weakness of her right arm and leg. Although knife injuries may result in the classical picture of brownsequard syndrome, they are relatively uncommon. Brownsequard syndrome bss is manifested as ipsilateral motor deficit and.
Combining all 3 of these publications, of a total of 16 clinical cases reported. Brownsequard syndrome bss and brownsequardplus syndrome bsps are characterised by asymmetrical paresis with hypalgesia more marked on the less paretic side. Genetic and rare diseases information center gard po box 8126, gaithersburg, md 208988126 tollfree. The cord basically controls and handles the whole body together. Rehabilitation of a patient with symptoms of brown.
The already present symptoms of bss can be aggravated by rollercoaster riding or chiropractic manipulation. Fracture dislocation of a unilateral articular process and acute ruptured inter vertebral disc have also been reported to give rise to this syndrome sullivan 1989. The points to note are total loss of sensation and flaccid paralysis at the level of the lesion due to destruction of nerve fibres at that segment of the spinal cord. The physical signs of classic brownseuard syndrome are shown in figure 2. Brownsequard syndrome is caused by damage to one half of the spinal cord, i. If you have problems viewing pdf files, download the latest version of adobe reader. Traumatic brownsequard syndrome due to a stab injury. Are multiple clinical syndromes with dural lesions associated with abnormal connective tissue.
The objective of this study was to describe clinical and radiological features of a series of patients presenting with brownsequard syndrome after blunt spinal trauma and to determine whether a correlation exists between cervical plain films, ct, mri and. Brownsequard syndrome is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by ipsilateral loss of motor function and contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensitivity, reflecting a hemi. The classic signs of brownsequard syndrome include ipsilateral motor and proprioceptive loss and contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation. Brownsequard syndrome, first reported in 1849, is characterised by hemisection of the cord with disruption of the descending lateral corticospinal tracts resulting in ipsilateral hemiplegia, and damage of the ascending lateral spinothalamic tracts which cross within one or two levels of the dorsal root entrance resulting in contralateral loss of pain and temperature. This condition results in weakness or paralysis on one side of the body hemiparaplegia and a loss of sensation on the opposite side hemianesthesia. Pdf cervical disc herniation causing brownsequard syndrome. The condition can also result from neoplasia or spinal cord tumor. The spinal cord is one of the most important parts of the human body that is regularly used on a daily basis. Brownsequard syndrome is a rare spinal disorder that results from an injury to one side of the spinal cord in which the spinal cord is damaged but is not severed completely. Brownsequard syndrome bss is manifested as ipsilateral motor. This hemitransection of the cord produces a characteristic set of clinical signs and symptoms. The treatment for individuals with bss depends on the cause and is. Brown sequard syndrome nord national organization for.
Brownsequard syndrome is a rare neurological condition that results from an injury or damage to one side of the spinal cord. But most often it is seen in textbooks and in med school exams. Brown sequard syndrome free download as powerpoint presentation. An understanding of the pathophysiology, treatment options, and potential. For language access assistance, contact the ncats public information officer.
This quiz will help you find out how much you know about spinal cord injury. The official patients sourcebook on brownsequard syndrome. Brownsequard syndrome after blunt cervical spine trauma. Cervical disc herniation causing brownsequard syndrome ncbi. Brownsequard syndrome usually follows spinal cord hemisection as a result of. Many of these disease processes have a predilection for targeting. It is usually caused by an injury to the spine in the region of the neck or back. Injury to half the spinal cord, or hemisection of the cord, can occur with trauma, tumor, or disc herniation.
Pneumocephalus and brownsequard syndrome caused by a stab wound to the back. Brownsequard syndrome is a rare form of incomplete spinal cord injury. Neurological examination on admission suggested the bss. The patients hemiparesis gradually improved and she. A revised and updated directory for the internet age icon health publications on. Brownsequard syndrome may be caused by a spinal cord tumor, trauma such as a gunshot wound or puncture wound to the neck or back, ischemia obstruction of a blood vessel, or infectious or inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis, or multiple sclerosis. She had no speech difficulty, facial weakness, or neck pain. A penetrating or blunt trauma to the back or neck is the most common cause of bss. Brownsequard syndrome is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by findings on clinical examination which reflect hemisection of the spinal cord cutting the spinal cord in half on one or the other side. Brownsequard syndrome is a neurological condition in which, as a result of a lesion affecting one half of the spinal cord, there is paralysis and loss of proprioception, vibration, and fine tactile discrimination on one side of the body and loss of pain and temperature on the other. Brown sequard syndrome hemisection of the spinal cord caused by extramedullary lesions usually caused by penetrating trauma or tumour. Although often not as prominent clinically, ipsilateral vibration and proprioceptive loss also occurs on the same side as the motor symptoms. Brownsequard syndrome, this is caused by lateral cord damage. Anatomy and localization of spinal cord disorders uptodate.
Brown sequard syndrome causes, symptoms, diagnosis and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Hemisection of spinal cord the clinical manifestations of syndrome. Brownsequard syndrome is caused by damage to one half of the spinal cord either left or right. The diagram opposite shows the effects of hemitransection of the cord on the right side of the individual. The disorder may be congenital existing at or before birth, or acquired. Initial management of acute spinal cord injury bja education. An emergency head computed tomographic scan showed no. Acute brownsequard syndrome neurology jama neurology. Administraaon of methylprednisolone for the treatment of acute sci is not. Davis, charlotte bsn, rn, ccrn nursing made incredibly easy.
Browns syndrome is a rare form of strabismus characterized by limited elevation of the affected eye. Place in the sage colleges library collection and reproduce for interlibrary loan. Med any combination of signs and symptoms that are indicative of a particular disease or disorder syndrome, mr. Evidencebased information on brown sequard syndrome from hundreds of trustworthy sources for health and social care. We report a case of brownsequard syndrome bss caused by a penetrating knife injury in a 31yearold woman who was involved in a fight and was stabbed on her occiput and on her back. Know the causes, symptoms, treatment, prognosis, pathophysiology and diagnosis of brownsequard syndrome. The subject of this fascinating biography was a major player in the evolution of medicine during the 19th century. The opposite disorder to addisons syndrome adrenocortical insufficiency was discovered almost 80 years after addison. Brownsequard syndrome bss is a rare neurological condition characterized by a lesion in the spinal cord which results in weakness or paralysis hemiparaplegia on one side of the body and a loss of sensation hemianesthesia on the opposite side. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging mri and evoked potentials confirmed the diagnosis. Half damage of spinal cord can cause brown sequard syndrome, resulting in paralysis and loss of proprioception on the same side as the injury or lesion, and loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side of lesion. At the university of florida in the treatment of head and neck cancers, marcus. Brownsequard syndrome is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by a clinical picture reflecting hemisection injury of the spinal cord, often in the cervical cord region. A revised and updated directory for the internet age.