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Neuropediatrics 2003; 34(1): 45-51
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-38621
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-38621
Short Communication
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Cervical Spinal Cord Atrophy in the Atraumatically Born Neonate: One Form of Prenatal or Perinatal Ischaemic Insult?
Further Information
Publication History
Received: August 9, 2002
Accepted after Revision: December 10, 2002
Publication Date:
11 April 2003 (online)
Abstract
After atraumatic birth, three neonates presented with muscle hypotonia and weakness. Flaccid paresis of the upper extremities, spasticity of the lower extremities, dissociate sensory loss and autonomic dysfunction developed later. This ruled out the initial, tentative diagnoses of cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy or hereditary neuropathy. Diagnostic imaging revealed marked thinning of the cervical spinal cord in all patients. The possible aetiology of these lesions is considered. In all cases, an antenatal or perinatal infarction is thought to be the most probable cause. Different clinical pictures following intrauterine spinal cord ischemia are discussed. Spinal cord lesion must be considered even after atraumatic birth.
Key words
Spinal cord infarction - spinal stroke - spinal ischaemia - newborn infant - congenital spinal atrophy - spinal cord injury - birth injury - muscle hypotonia
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Dr. Friedrich Ebinger
Universitätskinderklinik, Abt. Pädiatrische Neurologie
Im Neuenheimer Feld 150
69120 Heidelberg
Germany
Email: friedrich_ebinger@med.uni-heidelberg.de