Transient anisocoria after a traumatic cervical spinal cord injury: A case report

Abstract

Context: Autonomic dysreflexia and dysautonomia can be a common complication following spinal cord injury, especially at levels of T6 and above and can lead to complications associated with the pupil. In this case report, we review autonomic dysreflexia, the anatomy and physiology of the sympathetic nervous system of the eye, as well as review the clinical relevance in understanding autonomic and pupillary changes in response to autonomic dysfunction.

Findings: We present a patient with an incomplete C4 level injury who was found to have isolated anisocoria on two separate occasions during his acute inpatient rehabilitation stay.

Conclusion/Clinical Relevance: Anisocoria associated with abnormal sympathetic activation may be a clinical sign of dysautonomia.

Keywords:

• Anisocoria
• Dysautonomia
• Autonomic dysreflexia
• Sympathetic dysfunction
• Spinal cord injury

Acknowledgements

The authors are truly grateful for the illustration developed and drawn by Mikayla P. Borusiewicz.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Funding None.

Declaration of interest None.

Conflict of interest The authors certify that they have no financial or other conflicts of interest.

ORCID

Gary J. Farkas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5482-6049