Traumatic atypical tetraplegia without radiologic abnormalities including magnetic resonance imaging in an adult: a case report

Ann Rehabil Med. 2015 Feb;39(1):146-9. doi: 10.5535/arm.2015.39.1.146. Epub 2015 Feb 28.

Abstract

Although spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) literally refers to the specific type of spinal cord injury, however, some extents of spinal cord injuries can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in most of cases. We introduce an atypical case of spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality. A 42-year-old male tetraplegic patient underwent MRI and computed tomography, and no specific lesions were found in any segments of the spinal cord. Moreover, the tetraplegic patient showed normal urodynamic function despite severe paralysis and absent somatosensory evoked potentials from the lower limbs.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Somatosensory evoked potentials; Spinal cord injuries.