Missed bilateral radial head fractures in central cord syndrome

Traumatic central cord syndrome is a spinal injury often caused by hyperextension of the neck, especially in individuals with spondylosis or degenerative changes. Patients with this syndrome can have other injuries that are initially missed due to subtle symptoms or masking by neurological issues. This case report discusses a patient with traumatic central cord syndrome who also had bilateral radial head fractures. These fractures were not detected during the initial assessments at a major trauma center but were later found at a regional spinal injuries center. The importance of thorough examinations, like the tertiary survey, is highlighted to avoid missing subclinical injuries. Detecting and treating these injuries is vital for functional recovery and rehabilitation.

• 1
  Bilateral radial head fractures can be missed in patients with traumatic central cord syndrome during initial trauma assessments.
• 2
  Tertiary surveys are important for detecting subclinical injuries that may be missed in primary and secondary surveys.
• 3
  Early detection and management of radial head fractures are crucial for optimizing functional recovery and rehabilitation in patients with central cord syndrome.