A 32-year-old man is stabbed in the back. On examination, he has ipsilateral loss of motor function and proprioception below the level of injury, with contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation beginning one to two segments below the lesion. This pattern of deficits is characteristic of which syndrome?

• A Central cord syndrome
• B Anterior cord syndrome
• C Brown-Séquard syndrome ✓
• D Conus medullaris syndrome

Explanation

Brown-Séquard syndrome results from hemisection of the spinal cord. The classic triad is ipsilateral motor paralysis and loss of proprioception/vibration (corticospinal and dorsal column tracts) with contralateral loss of pain and temperature (spinothalamic tract, which crosses within one to two segments). Central cord syndrome causes upper greater than lower limb weakness. Anterior cord syndrome spares dorsal columns. Conus medullaris affects sacral segments and bladder function.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.