Brown-Sequard Syndrome in Emergency Medicine Follow-up

  • Author: Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP; Chief Editor: Rick Kulkarni, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 21, 2011
 

Transfer

  • Transfer to a level I trauma center or to a facility with expertise in the care of spinal cord injuries is appropriate; however, transfer should not impede the overall evaluation of these patients, including assessment for possible other injuries.
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Complications

  • Complications associated with spinal injury may be present. These may include hypotension initially ("spinal shock") to pulmonary emboli if not prophylactically treated. Subacute and chronic care periods may be complicated by infection to sites such as lungs, urine, etc. Depression frequently occurs in patients with spinal cord injuries and should be observed for in these patients.
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Prognosis

  • The prognosis for Brown-Séquard syndrome is poor and depends to a large degree on the etiology of the syndrome. Early treatment with high-dose steroids has shown benefit.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP  Professor of Emergency Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy; Attending Faculty, Akron General Medical Center

Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, National Association of EMS Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Samuel M Keim, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Samuel M Keim, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

J Stephen Huff, MD  Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Neurology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine

J Stephen Huff, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

References

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