https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2023.11233
Spinal Cord Injury without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA): a case report and literature review
Submitted: 2 February 2023
Accepted: 11 April 2023
Published: 23 June 2023
Accepted: 11 April 2023
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is a rare post-traumatic myelopathy, more frequently seen in paediatric population and elderly. Clinical manifestation can range from transient isolated paraesthesia to quadriplegia. Due to its rarity in adults and the broad spectrum of neurological manifestations, SCIWORA actually represents a challenge for emergency physicians. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial for the patient’s prognosis avoiding permanent neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis, management and prognosis of SCIWORA, being the golden standard technique to identify spinal cord injuries. To highlight the importance of in-depth neurological examination and early diagnosis of SCIWORA, we describe the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented to our emergency department following a forward fall down the stairs with a minor head injury.
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How to Cite
Morelli, N., Poggiali, E., Ioannilli, E., De Mitri, P., Corvi, A., Cervellin, G., & Vercelli, A. (2023). Spinal Cord Injury without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA): a case report and literature review. Emergency Care Journal, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2023.11233
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