- Brown-Séquard syndrome: syndrome produced by hemisection of the spinal cord, giving ipsilateral and contralateral deficits below the level of the lesion.
Effects of Hemisection
Effects of spinal cord hemisection
Structure involved
Pyramidal tract
- Side affected
- Ipsilateral
- Deficit below the lesion
- UMN type (spastic) paralysis
Posterior columns
- Side affected
- Ipsilateral
- Deficit below the lesion
- Loss of proprioception (position, posture, passive movement, vibration) and fine touch/discrimination
Spinothalamic tract
- Side affected
- Contralateral
- Deficit below the lesion
- Loss of pain and temperature sensation
- Classic teaching example: hemisection on the left side of the cord at the T10 segment.