Anterior Cord Syndrome

Authors
Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Etiology

  • Frequently related to flexion injuries of the cervical region1
    • Damage to anterior portion of the cord1
    • And/or the Vascular supply (anterior spinal artery)1.
  • Compression of anterior cord
    • Fracture
    • Dislocation
    • Cervical disk protrusion

Clinical Presentation

Corticospinal tract damage

  • Motor function loss1
  • Below the level of the lesion1

Spinothalamic tract Damage

  • Pain loss1
  • Temperature loss1
  • Below the level of the lesion1

DCML Preservation

  • Preservation (generally)
    • Proprioception
    • Light touch
    • Vibratory sense

Prognosis

Individuals with anterior cord syndrome often require a longer length of stay during inpatient rehabilitation compared to people with other types of SCI clinical syndromes1

References

1.
O’Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GD, eds. Physical Rehabilitation. 7th ed. F.A. Davis Company; 2019.

Citation

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