Abstract
We present 2 patients in whom the predominant neurological complication following
lightning strike was spinal cord injury. One patient, who was followed for 5 years,
showed clinical, electrophysiologic and MRI evidence of cervical spinal cord injury.
This patient had significant recovery, which in part, may be related to early and
intense rehabilitation. The second patient presented with the symptoms and signs of
spinal shock which then evolved into a myelopathy. Follow-up several months later
showed almost complete resolution of symptoms. These patients demonstrate that the
prognosis of spinal cord injury complicating a lightning strike may not be uniformly
poor.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 16,
2008
Received in revised form:
September 9,
2008
Received:
June 23,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
