Cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata: report of three cases.

STUDY

DESIGN

Report of three cases of cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata.

OBJECTIVE

To stress the importance of upper cervical spine lesions causing neurological symptoms and signs.

SETTING

Neuro-orthopedic service, Fukui University Hospital, Japan.

RESULTS

Three patients (all females; one with congenital anomaly at the occiput-atlas level, one with assimilation of the atlas, and one with rheumatoid arthritis-related proliferative synovium) had clinical features of cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata. All three cases underwent decompressive surgeries.

CONCLUSION

Neurological symptoms and signs of cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata should be carefully assessed, and surgical therapy should be based on the pathological condition.