A system of practical medicine. By American authors. Vol. 5 : $b Diseases of the nervous system
Science
A system of practical medicine. By American authors. Vol. 5 : $b Diseases of the nervous system
Medicine -- Practice
(_e_) A transverse lesion of the cord at the level of the last
cervical and first dorsal nerves—_i.e._ in the lower part of the
cervical enlargement—gives rise to typical paraplegia with a sensory
limit-line at or just below the clavicle, but also with some very
peculiar symptoms superadded. These characteristic symptoms are in the
upper extremities, and consist of paralysis and anæsthesia in the
range of distribution of the ulnar nerves. In the arms the anæsthesia
will be found along the lower ulnar aspect of the forearm, the ulnar
part of the hands, the whole of the little fingers, and one half of
the annuli. There will be paralysis (and in some cases atrophy with
De R.) affecting the flexor carpi ulnaris, the hypothenar eminence,
the interossei, and the ulnar half of the thenar group of muscles,
producing in most cases a special deformity of the hand known as
claw-hand or main-en-griffe. Another important symptom of a transverse
lesion in this location is complete paralysis of all the intercostal
and abdominal muscles, rendering respiration diaphragmatic and making
coughing and expectoration impossible. The breathing is abdominal in
type, and asphyxia is constantly impending.
(_f_) A transverse lesion of the upper part of the cervical
enlargement, below the origin of the fourth cervical nerve, gives rise
to symptoms {76} designated as cervical or total paraplegia. The lower
extremities and trunk are as in (_d_) and (_e_), but besides both arms
are completely paralyzed and anæsthetic. The limit of anæsthesia
usually extends along the clavicles to the acromion processes, or a
little below, near the deltoid insertions. All reflexes caudad of this
line are vastly increased, either with tonic or clonic contractions.
In some cases of pressure upon the cervical cord by tumors, caries of
vertebræ, etc. the tetanoid or spastic state of the extremities (the
lower more especially) may precede paralysis for a long time; as the
compression increases paralysis becomes more and more marked, while
the reflexes remain high. This constitutes the clinical group we
described in 1873 as tetanoid pseudo-paraplegia.
(_g_) Transverse lesions of the spinal cord from the decussation of
the pyramids to the fourth cervical nerve are very rare, and usually
of traumatic origin. They produce complete paralysis of the entire
body, and also of the diaphragm (third and fourth cervical nerves),
thus causing death by apnœa in a very short time.
(_h_) In ascending paralysis (Landry) the above symptom-groups,
excepting (_a_), (_b_), are met with at successive stages of the
disease, often by almost daily accession, until finally respiration
ceases.
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