Brown-Sequard syndrome

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mandana Safakhah, MD[2]

Synonyms and keywords: Brown-Séquard's hemiplegia; Brown-Séquard's paralysis

Brown-Sequard syndrome
Brown-Sequard syndrome is bottom diagram
ICD-10	G83.8
ICD-9	344.89
DiseasesDB	31117
MeSH	D018437

Overview

'Brown-Séquard syndrome is a loss of motricity (paralysis and ataxia) and sensation caused by the lateral hemisection of the spinal cord. Other synonyms are crossed hemiplegia, hemiparaplegic syndrome, hemiplegia et hemiparaplegia spinalis and spinal hemiparaplegia.

Historical Perspective

It was first described in 1850 by the historically famous British neurologist Charles Édouard Brown-Sequard (1817-1896), who studied the anatomy and physiology of the spinal cord. Brown-Sequard was quite a controversial and eccentric figure, and is also known for self-reporting "rejuvinated sexual prowess after eating extracts of monkey testis". The response is now thought to have been a placebo effect, but apparently this was "sufficient to set the field of endocrinology off and running."

Interestingly, many nations claim him as their own, he was the son of an American sea captain and a French woman, living in a British territory. He studied in the US, France, as well as the UK. He described this injury which resulted from caning knives trauma in Mauritius.

Pathophysiology

The hemisection of the cord results in a lesion of each of the three main neural systems:

• the principal upper motor neuron pathway of the corticospinal tract
• one or both dorsal columns
• the spinothalamic tract

As a result of the injury to these three main brain pathways the patient will present with three lesions.

• The corticospinal lesion produces spastic paralysis on the same side of the body (the loss of moderation by the UMN).

• The lesion to fasciculus gracilis or fasciculus cuneus results in ipsilateral loss of vibration and proprioception (position sense).

• The loss of the spinothalamic tract leads to pain and temperature sensation being lost from the contralateral side beginning one or two segments below the lesion. At the lesion site all sensory modalities are lost on the same side, and also an ipsilateral flaccid paralysis.

Causes

Brown-Sequard 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.

Differentiating Brown-Sequard syndrome from Other Diseases

Brown -Sequard syndrome must be differentiated from other diseases that cause poor muscle tone, muscle weakness, muscle spasticity and areflexia such as Motor neuron disease, Progressive spinal muscular atrophy, Primary lateral sclerosis and stroke..

Epidemiology and Demographics

Brown sequard syndrome affects both male and female equally. The incidence of this disease is 2% of all traumatic spinal cord injury.

In 2007, the prevalence of brown- sequard syndrome was estimated to be 17.1% of patients diagnose with spinal cord injuries admitted to Virginia commonwealth university,Virginia,USA..

Risk Factors

There is no established risk factor for Brown -sequard syndrome.

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for [brown -sequard syndrome].

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

There are no established criteria for the diagnosis of Brown-Sequard Syndrome.

History and Symptoms

The majority of patients with Brown-Sequard Syndrome experience this syndrome following a trauma to their neck or back region. First symptoms are usually loss of pain and temperature sensation in dermatomes below the traumatized region ,which is due to the decussation of antero- lateral fibers within spinal tract through white commissure resulting in contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation. Also ,decussation of corticospinal tract at medulla leads to ipsilateral spastic paresis and ipsilateral of vibration and proprioception sensation.

Physical Examination

Although there are various cause for Brown-Sequard Syndrome, the main cause is due to traumatic injury.So initial examination for these patients should follow the ABCDE protocol suggested by advanced trauma life support.cervical spine should be immobilized. furthermore,Rectal exam should be done and ASIA score should be evaluated'Also other important causes of this syndrome such as infection,mass effect,stroke and multiple sclerosis should be ruled out. The majority of patients with this syndrome ,usually experience classic hemi -cord syndrome,ipsilateral motor paralysis and loss of vibration and proprioception sense .IN addition loss of pain and temperature sense on the other side.Loss of bowel and bladder control may be seen.

Laboratory Findings

There are no diagnostic laboratory findings associated with Brown-Sequard Syndrome.

Imaging Findings

MRI is the imaging of choice in spinal cord lesions.The features of MRI in any case depends on the underlying cause. However, all of them may show unilateral pathology.

References

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