Traumatic Lumbar Plexopathy by Seat Belt Injury.
10.4184/jkss.2017.24.1.39
- Author:
Yung PARK
1
,
2
;
Min Seok KO
;
Jin Hwa KAM
;
Sang Hoon LEE
;
Yun Tae LEE
;
Joo Hyung YOO
;
Hyun Chul OH
;
Joong Won HA
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Health Insurance Service
2. Ilsan Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea. jwha@nhimc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Traumatic;
Lumbar plexopathy;
Seat belt injury
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Adult;
Comprehension;
Diagnosis;
Hemiplegia;
Humans;
Leg;
Lower Extremity;
Lumbosacral Plexus;
Male;
Motor Vehicles;
Neurologic Manifestations;
Physical Examination;
Rupture;
Seat Belts*;
Spine;
Thoracic Wall;
Torso;
Urinary Bladder;
Vascular System Injuries
- From:Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
2017;24(1):39-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report and discuss an extremely uncommon cause of lumbar plexopathy seat belt injury. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: For patients who undergo traffic accidents, most cases of seat belt injury cause trauma to the lower torso. Seat belt injury is associated with variable clinical problems such as vascular injury, intestinal injury (perforation), vertebral injury (flexion-distraction injury), chest wall injury, diaphragmatic rupture/hernia, bladder rupture, lumbosacral plexopathy, and other related conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 38-year-old male truck driver (traffic accident victim) who suffered monoplegia of his right leg due to lumbar plexus injury without spinal column involvement. Injury to a lumbar plexus and the internal vasculatures originated from direct compression to internal abdominal organs (the iliopsoas muscle and internal vasculatures anterior to the lumbar vertebrae) caused by the seat belt. We have illustrated an extremely uncommon cause of a neurologic deficit from a traffic accident through this case. RESULTS: Under the impression of traumatic lumbar plexopathy, we managed it conservatively, and the patient showed signs of recovery from neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: We need to review the lumbar plexus pathway, in patients with atypical motor weakness and sensory loss of the lower extremities which are not unaccompanied by demonstrable spinal lesions. Therefore, close history taking, physical examination and comprehension of injury mechanism are important in the diagnosis.
