Central-cord syndrome is characterized by which of the following?

Central-cord syndrome is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Complete quadriplegia with preserved sensation
• B. Loss of vibration with preserved motor
• C. Motor impairment in the upper extremities with sensory loss below the level of injury, often due to cervical spondylosis.
• D. Lower extremity weakness with preserved upper extremities

Answer: (C)

Central cord syndrome occurs when the central portion of the cervical spinal cord is damaged, most often from a hyperextension injury in someone with cervical spondylosis. The corticospinal fibers supplying the arms are more affected, so weakness is greatest in the upper extremities while the lower extremities are less impaired. Sensory loss can be variable, but patients commonly have some sensory deficit below the level of injury, and the dorsal columns are often relatively spared early, which helps explain preserved vibration and proprioception in many cases. Among the given descriptions, the pattern of upper-extremity motor impairment with sensory loss below the level of injury, especially in the context of cervical spondylosis, best matches central cord syndrome. The other patterns describe syndromes that don’t fit this presentation—for example, complete quadriplegia with preserved sensation, selective loss of vibration with intact motor, or isolated lower-extremity weakness with preserved upper-extremity function.

Central cord syndrome occurs when the central portion of the cervical spinal cord is damaged, most often from a hyperextension injury in someone with cervical spondylosis. The corticospinal fibers supplying the arms are more affected, so weakness is greatest in the upper extremities while the lower extremities are less impaired. Sensory loss can be variable, but patients commonly have some sensory deficit below the level of injury, and the dorsal columns are often relatively spared early, which helps explain preserved vibration and proprioception in many cases. Among the given descriptions, the pattern of upper-extremity motor impairment with sensory loss below the level of injury, especially in the context of cervical spondylosis, best matches central cord syndrome. The other patterns describe syndromes that don’t fit this presentation—for example, complete quadriplegia with preserved sensation, selective loss of vibration with intact motor, or isolated lower-extremity weakness with preserved upper-extremity function.