White cord syndrome secondary to decompressive laminectomy associated with cervical arthrodesis in a patient with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and posterior longitudinal ligament ossification

Abstract

White cord syndrome is a devastating disease that sometimes occurs secondary to different pathologies, at the cervical level, we find diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, diseases that require surgical management in order to improve quality of life. However, there may be unusual complications at motor and sensory level due to compromise of the spinal cord that has been exposed to chronic compression. When performing a rapid decompression of the canal, changes in perfusion occur in the spinal cord, which affects the recruitment of necrosis factors and alteration in the blood–brain barrier, producing neuronal damage. We describe a clinical case that presented with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis requiring neurosurgical management who presented white cord syndrome in the postoperative period.

Keywords

• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
• Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Ossification
• Cervical canal stenosis
• Decompressive Laminectomy
• White Cord Syndrome