Case 2: Acute paralysis in a 10-year-old girl
Sarah Reid, MD FRCPC and Erick Sell, MD
Additional article information
An otherwise healthy 10-year-old girl presented with acute onset of lower extremity paresthesia, weakness and altered bladder function following the performance of long jump at school. Before and at the time of the jump, she did not complain of any pain or trauma, and was able to walk normally.
Approximately 1 h after the jump however, she experienced a gradual onset of weakness and decreased sensation in her lower extremities.
When she presented to the pediatric emergency department 12 h later, she was unable to walk. She complained of mild lower back pain and saddle paresthesia. Her vital signs were stable; she was afebrile, alert and oriented. Her cranial nerves and upper extremity examination were normal. Her reflexes were absent at the knee and ankle bilaterally. Strength was preserved at her hips (5 of 5), slightly decreased at her knees (3 of 5) and significantly decreased at her ankles (1 to 2 of 5 plantar- and dorsiflexion). Her sensation to light touch and pinprick was decreased in an L3 to S1 distribution bilaterally. She had no rectal tone. She had not voided since before the jump. Further investigation revealed the diagnosis.
The finding of diffusion restriction in the T12 to L1 region of the spinal cord was consistent with acute infarct and edema. Further investigations including MRI of the head, echocardiogram, thrombophilia screening and cerebrospinal fluid studies were normal. On follow-up MRI/magnetic resonance angiogram, postischemic gliosis was observed in the region of the infarct and no evidence of dural arteriovenous malformation was found.
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Case 2: Acute paralysis in a 10-year-old girl