Blunt cervical spine trauma as a cause of spinal cord injury and delayed cortical blindness.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVE

To present and discuss the case of a patient who sustained a significant flexion compression injury of the cervical spine with resulting tetraplegia and development of cortical blindness.

SETTING

National Spinal Injuries Unit and Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

METHODS

Clinical and radiological follow-up of the patient.

RESULTS

Cortical blindness resulted from vertebral artery dissection associated with blunt cervical spine trauma. The patient is registered blind and is ventilator dependent.

CONCLUSION

The potential complications of blunt vertebral artery injury remain poorly recognised. Screening is routinely not performed. Advances in noninvasive radiological techniques may result in recognition of asymptomatic disease and the potential for therapeutic intervention.