Upper Thoracic Spinal Cord Transection Without Vertebral Column Injury Following Blunt Trauma

Abstract

Abstract Spinal cord transection without vertebral injury is exceedingly rare in adults. We report a 63-year-old man who sustained a road traffic accident and presented with ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) grade A paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated near-complete transection of the thoracic cord at T1–T2 with extensive edema. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the spine showed preserved vertebral alignment. Managed conservatively, he remained paraplegic at 3 months. This case underscores the importance of MRI in severe deficits despite normal CT findings.