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J Accid Emerg Med 2000;17:374-375 doi:10.1136/emj.17.5.374
  • Case report

Adult spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality

  1. Sarah Crawford,
  2. Tony Bleetman
  1. Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham B9 5SS
  1. Correspondence to: Mr Bleetman, Consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine (bleetman{at}enterprise.net)
  • Accepted 15 January 2000

Abstract

Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality is rare in adults. A case is described of a 61 year old man who fell 15 feet from a ladder striking his head on a wall who presented with neck pain and with motor and sensory neurological abnormalities in his limbs. Plain radiographs of the neck revealed no fractures or dislocations. Further imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an osteophyte fracture with associated cord contusion at the C5 level. Careful neurological examination is essential in all cases of potential spinal injury.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Conflicts of interest: none.

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