Abstract
Spinal cord seizures are infrequently reported. They have been associated with intravenous dye placement, transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis, but never with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). We report the case of a 48-year-old SCI male with complete C6 quadriplegia, and apparent spinal cord seizures. These seizures were characterised by myoclonus simplex activity involving the upper extremities only. The lower extremities were spared. The patient was conscious throughout the myoclonic activity and an electroencephalogram of the brain obtained during an event revealed no cortical epiliptiform activity. The seizures lasted approximately 30 seconds to a few minutes, and an acute increase in blood pressure and a decrease in pulse generally occurred 30 to 60 seconds prior to the event. Previously reported spinal cord seizures in multiple sclerosis were frequently treated with carbamazepine. In this case successful treatment was with diazepam. Spinal cord seizures may present in those with traumatic SCI. Benzodiaze-pines may be useful in the treatment of spinal cord seizures.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Broughton A, Burr R G 1972 Magnesium metabolism following spinal cord injury. Paraplegia 10: 134–141.
Browne T R, Penry J K 1973 Benzodiazepines in the treatment of epilepsy: A review. Epilepsia 14: 277–310.
Castaigne P, Cambier J, Branet P 1968 Spinal sensory-motor seizures. Lancet i: 357.
Cherrick A A, Ellenberg M 1986 Spinal cord seizures in transverse myelopathy: Report of two cases. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 67: 129–131.
Ekbom K A, Westerberg C E, Osterman P O 1968 Focal sensory-motor seizures of spinal origin. Lancet i: 67.
Erickson R P 1980 Autonomic hyperreflexia: Pathophysiology and medical management. A rchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 61: 431–440.
Espir M L, Millac P 1970 Treatment of paroxysmal disorders in multiple sclerosis with carbamazepine. Journal Neurology Neurosurgery Psychiatr 33: 528–531.
Glaser G H 1982 Cecil's Textbook of Medicine, WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp 2114-2124.
Frankel H L, Hancock D O, Hyslop G, et al., 1969 The value of postural reduction in the initial management of closed in juries of the spinal with paraplegia and tetraplegia. Paraplegia 7: 179–182.
Matthews W B 1975 Paroxysmal symptoms in multiple sclerosis. Journal Nenrol Neurosurg Psychiatry 38: 617–623.
Tokokura Y, Sakuta M, Nakanishi T 1976 Painful tonic seizures in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 26/2: 18–19.
Twomey J A, Espir M L E 1980 Paroxysmal symptoms as the manifestations of multiple sclerosis. Journal Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 43: 296–304.
Uhl G R, Martinez C R, Brooks B R 1981 Spinal seizures following intravenous contrast in a patient with a cord AVM. Annales of Neurology 231: 225–230.
Watson C P, Chiu M 1979 Painful tonic seizures in multiple sclerosis: Localization of a lesion. Canadian Journal Neurological Sciences 6: 359–361.
Yarkony G M, Katz R T Yeong-Chi W 1986 Seizures secondary to autonomic dysreflexia. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 67: 834–835.
Young R R, Delwaide P J 1981 Drug therapy: Spasticity. New England Journal Medicine 304: 96–99.
Yu J, Chambers W W, Liu C N 1984 Introduction of spinal seizures by natural stimulation in cats. Brain Research 299: 323–330.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meythaler, J., Tuel, S. & Cross, L. Spinal cord seizures: a possible cause of isolated myoclonic activity in traumatic spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 29, 557–560 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1991.81
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1991.81
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Atypical facial pain in multiple sclerosis caused by spinal cord seizures: a case report and review of the literature
Journal of Medical Case Reports (2016)
-
Episodic itch in a case of spinal glioma
BMC Neurology (2013)