Cruciate paralysis caused by injury of the upper cervical spine.

Cruciate paralysis is an uncommon injury to the cervicomedullary junction. Five patients with injuries of the upper cervical spine and the clinical manifestation of cruciate paralysis are presented. This injury pattern is characterized by bilateral upper extremity paralysis, with minimal or no lower extremity involvement. The neuroanatomic basis and the diagnosis of this clinical entity are discussed, and the related reports in the literature are reviewed.