This is a case of a spinal cord injury.

The patient underwent emergent neurosurgical intervention where she received an open reduction and internal fixation and anterior cervical diskectomy, decompression, and fusion at C6-C7. She also received anterior plate instrumentation at C6-C7.

A follow-up MRI of the cervical spine (not shown) demonstrated myelomalacia and atrophy of the spinal cord in the region of the T2/STIR hyperintensity seen in this case. The patient experienced long-term muscle rigidity and weakness.

Co-author:
Morgan Zhao, MD