Brown-Sequard Syndrome - Medtick
Medtick

Brown-Sequard Syndrome

What is it?

A rare spinal disorder that results from an injury to one side of the spinal cord in which the spinal cord is damaged but is not severed completely.

Cause

  • Puncture wound in the neck or in the back that damages the spine (i.e stabbed with a sharp object
  • Cervical disease
  • Bacterial Infection i.e.
    • Meningitis
    • Myelitis (Infection or the inflammation of the white matter or grey matter of the spinal cord)
    • Tuberculosis
  • Viral infections: Herpes zoster, herpes simplex virus i.e.
  • Fall or Major accident
  • Lateral curvature of the spine (kyphosis)
  • Chiari I malformation
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Spinal epidural hematoma
  • Intramedullary spinal cord tumour
  • Myeloschisis – severe form of a neural tube defect where the open neural tube appears as a flattened, plate-like mass of nervous tissue with no overlying membrane

Medication

  • Methamphetamine injection in the neck

Symptoms

  • Loses the sense of touch, vibrations and/or position in three dimensions below the level of the injury (hemiparesis or asymmetric paresis)?
  • Sensory loss is particularly strong on the same side (ipsilateral) as the injury to the spine?
  • Sensations are accompanied by a loss of the sense of pain and of temperature (hypalgesia) on the side of the body opposite (contralateral) to the side at which the injury was sustained?
  • Muscle weakness in the affected area?
  • Muscle weakness in legs?
  • Paralysis of the affected area?
  • Loss of bowel control?
  • Loss of bladder control?

National Organisation of  Rare disorders

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Brown-Sequard Syndrome in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

© Medtick - 2025. All Rights Reserved.