Brown-Sequard Syndrome

Brown-Sequard Syndrome is a condition characterized by a lesion in the spinal cord resulting in:

• Loss of motor function on ipsilateral side of the body below the level of the lesion (corticospinal tract compression)
• Loss of proprioception and vibration sense (dorsal columns compression) below the level of the lesion ipsilaterally
• Loss of pain and temperature sensation on other side of the body below the level of the lesion (spinothalamic tract compression)

Causes include:

• Trauma
• Inflammatory diseases
• Multiple sclerosis
• Tuberculosis
• Spinal cord tumour

Rare causes include:

• Cervical disc herniation
• After vaccination for diphtheria and tetanus

References:

Choi, K., Lee, C., Chung, D and Lee, S. Cervical Disc Herniation as a Cause of Brown-Sequard Syndrome. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2009. 46 : 505-510.

Young-Barbee, C et al. Brown-Sequard Syndrome after herpes zoster. Neurology. 2009 February 17; 72(7): 670–671.