Severe cervical flexion myelopathy with long tract signs: a case report and a review of literature.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Hirayama disease, a type of cervical flexion myelopathy, is a rare neurological disease characterized by muscular atrophy of the forearms and hands. Generally, the pathology is limited to the gray matter of the anterior horns in the lower cervical spinal cord. However, in rare cases the damage can spread to the white matter and present as long tract signs.

Case presentation

We report on a 30-year-old female whose onset presented as unilateral muscle atrophy of the right hand in her teens. Despite conservative treatment using a cervical collar, she developed prolonged bilateral muscle atrophy, sensory disturbance and spastic gait, along with bladder and rectal disturbances. Her hands were frozen into a 'claw-like' gesture and her intrinsic muscles were highly atr

SUBMITTER: Fujimori T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5425961 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature