Diseases

Central Cord Syndrome

A syndrome associated with traumatic injury to the cervical or upper thoracic regions of the spinal cord characterized by weakness in the arms with relative sparing of the legs and variable sensory loss. This condition is associated with ischemia, hemorrhage, or necrosis involving the central portions of the spinal cord. Corticospinal fibers destined for the legs are spared due to their more external location in the spinal cord. This clinical pattern may emerge during recovery from spinal shock. Deficits may be transient or permanent.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A syndrome associated with traumatic injury to the cervical or upper thoracic regions of the spinal cord characterized by weakness in the arms with relative sparing of the legs and variable sensory loss. This condition is associated with ischemia, hemorrhage, or necrosis involving the central portions of the spinal cord. Corticospinal fibers destined for the legs are spared due to their more external location in the spinal cord. This clinical pattern may emerge during recovery from spinal shock. Deficits may be transient or permanent.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

2 entry terms
  • Central Cord Injury Syndrome
  • Central Spinal Cord Syndrome

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

coord IM with specific vertebrae (NIM) to locate site on spinal cord

MeSH Record

History Note

2000

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Spinal Cord (1971-1999)
  • Spinal Diseases (1971-1999)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C10w.228w.854w.763w.500w
  2. C10w.900.850w.625w
  3. C26w.819w.339w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Central Cord Syndrome. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D020210. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D020210
  2. Central Cord Syndrome. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_cord_syndrome
  3. Central Cord Syndrome. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3288189