What syndrome features quadriparesis with more involvement of upper extremities and loss of pain and temperature sensation more in the upper extremities?

What syndrome features quadriparesis with more involvement of upper extremities and loss of pain and temperature sensation more in the upper extremities?

• A. Central Cord Syndrome
• B. Brown-Sequard Syndrome
• C. Posterior Cord Syndrome
• D. Anterior Cord Syndrome

Answer: (A)

Central cord syndrome fits this pattern because injury centered in the cervical spinal cord tends to hit the fibers that control the arms more than those for the legs. The corticospinal tracts serving the upper limbs are affected, producing greater weakness in the arms than the legs. At the same time, the center of the cord contains the crossing spinothalamic fibers that carry pain and temperature; when these central fibers are damaged, pain and temperature loss is often more pronounced in the upper extremities. This combination—quadriparesis with arm-predominant weakness and a greater loss of pain and temperature in the arms—is characteristic. In contrast: - Brown-Sequard would produce a mix of ipsilateral motor and proprioception loss with contralateral pain/temperature loss below the lesion, not an arm-predominant pattern. - Anterior cord syndrome would cause both motor and pain/temperature loss below the lesion with preserved vibration/proprioception. - Posterior cord syndrome would mainly disrupt vibration and proprioception with relatively preserved motor and pain/temperature.

Central cord syndrome fits this pattern because injury centered in the cervical spinal cord tends to hit the fibers that control the arms more than those for the legs. The corticospinal tracts serving the upper limbs are affected, producing greater weakness in the arms than the legs. At the same time, the center of the cord contains the crossing spinothalamic fibers that carry pain and temperature; when these central fibers are damaged, pain and temperature loss is often more pronounced in the upper extremities. This combination—quadriparesis with arm-predominant weakness and a greater loss of pain and temperature in the arms—is characteristic.

In contrast:

• Brown-Sequard would produce a mix of ipsilateral motor and proprioception loss with contralateral pain/temperature loss below the lesion, not an arm-predominant pattern.

• Anterior cord syndrome would cause both motor and pain/temperature loss below the lesion with preserved vibration/proprioception.

• Posterior cord syndrome would mainly disrupt vibration and proprioception with relatively preserved motor and pain/temperature.