Cervical spinal cord injury presenting with refractory orthostatic hypotension: a case report
Bahar Dernek 1 ,Aydan Oral 1 ,Resa Aydın 1 ,Nalan Çapan 1 ,Sina Esmaeilzadeh 1
1 İstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye
DOI :
10.5606/tftrd.2016.91979
In case of cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries, refractory orthostatic hypotension may result from unmeet parasympathetic system
influences and sympathetic system impairment due to the diffuse destruction of the sympathetic innervation of the body and the preservation
of parasympathetic cranial innervation in certain patients. Pharmacological treatments include mineralocorticoids and adrenergic
agents, while non-pharmacological methods such as abdominal pads and compression devices can be used. Herein, we report a 21-year-old
male case of refractory orthostatic hypotension following a fifth cervical vertebra compression fracture. The case was treated with mineralocorticoid
therapy in conjunction with electrical stimulation to the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles. The results of the treatment and
treatment strategies of orthostatic hypotension are discussed in the light of literature data.
Keywords :
Cervical spinal cord injury; orthostatic hypotension; treatment
