Central pontine myelinolysis in a pediatric head injury patient

Pediatr Neurosurg. 2010;46(1):51-3. doi: 10.1159/000315003. Epub 2010 May 27.

Abstract

Central pontine myelinolysis occurs inconsistently as a complication of severe and prolonged hyponatremia, particularly when corrected too rapidly. It is a concentrated, frequently symmetric, noninflammatory demyelination within the central basis pontis. We describe a head injury patient who suffered this clinical entity as a consequence of rapidly corrected hyponatremia. Clinical manifestation and radiological findings are described along with a review of the pertinent literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / complications*
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / pathology
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Humans
  • Hyponatremia / complications*
  • Hyponatremia / pathology
  • Hyponatremia / therapy
  • Male
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / etiology*
  • Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Quadriplegia / etiology
  • Quadriplegia / pathology