Bilateral upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis following central cord syndrome

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication following spinal cord injury (SCI). Although DVT of the upper extremity is much less common than DVT of the lower extremities, the risk of pulmonary embolism following upper-extremity DVT should not be disregarded. Central cord syndrome is characterized by the cervical medulla spinalis injury related to cervical spine trauma or degenerative process. Motor impairment of the upper than that of the lower extremities is the prominent clinical finding. A bilateral upper-extremity DVT developed in a 51-year-old woman with SCI (central cord syndrome) being followed in our rehabilitation clinic. Medical treatment resulted in improvement in the clinical status of the patient as well as the regression in the thrombus.

• 1
  A 51-year-old woman with central cord syndrome developed bilateral upper-extremity DVT.
• 2
  Doppler ultrasonography revealed a thrombus in the left subclavian vein and right cephalic vein.
• 3
  Medical treatment with enoxaparin resulted in recanalization of the flow and regression in the thrombus in both extremities.