Cervical disc herniation producing acute brown-sequard syndrome

J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2009 May;45(5):312-4. doi: 10.3340/jkns.2009.45.5.312. Epub 2009 May 31.

Abstract

Brown-Sequard syndrome may be the result of penetrating injury to the spine, but many other etiologies have been described. This syndrome is most commonly seen with spinal trauma and extramedullary spinal neoplasm. A herniated cervical disc has been rarely reported as a cause of this syndrome. We present a case of a 28-year-old male patient diagnosed as large C3-C4 disc herniation with spinal cord compression. He presented with left hemiparesis and diminished sensation to pain and temperature in the right side below the C4 dermatome. Microdiscectomy and anterior cervical fusion with carbon fiber cage containing a core of granulated coralline hydroxyapatite was performed. After the surgery, rapid improvement of the neurologic deficits was noticed. We present a case of cervical disc herniation producing acute Brown-Sequard syndrome with review of pertinent literature.

Keywords: Anterior cervical fusion; Brown-Sequard syndrome; Cervical disc herniation; Microdiscectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports