A 28-year-old man is stabbed in the right side of his back at the T10 level. On examination he has weakness of the right lower limb with an upgoing plantar, loss of joint position sense and vibration in the right leg, and loss of pain and temperature sensation beginning two segments below the level on the left side. Which syndrome does this represent?

• A Brown-Sequard syndrome ✓
• B Anterior cord syndrome
• C Central cord syndrome
• D Posterior cord syndrome

Explanation

Hemisection of the cord produces ipsilateral upper motor neuron weakness and ipsilateral loss of dorsal column modalities below the lesion, with contralateral loss of pain and temperature starting a few segments below because spinothalamic fibres cross within two to three segments of entry. Central cord syndrome gives greater arm than leg weakness with a cape-like sensory loss, and anterior cord syndrome spares proprioception bilaterally.

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.