A case of spinal cord infarction presenting with unilateral C5 palsy

Abstract

A 75-year-old man developed sudden-onset tetraparesis preceded by chest pain. MRI of the cervical spine on the day of onset showed no abnormalities. Although his motor symptoms improved gradually, the weakness of the muscles innervated by the C5 nerve root persisted. Sensory and autonomic deficits were detected on an additional neurological examination, and follow-up MRI eight days after onset revealed spinal cord infarction at the right anterior horn at C3–C4. This case suggests that motor symptoms mimicking a radiculopathy could be present during the course of spinal cord infarction.