Episode 916: Central Cord Syndrome

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: How long do we need to watch patients with a presumed overdose who were treated with naloxone in the field? A 2025 study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine took a look at this question Methods Prospective, multi-institutional coh ...  Show more

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: D-dimer: fibrin degradation product used to evaluate for clot formation and breakdown Threshold: <500ng/mL rules out venous thromboembolism in low risk patients Elevated D-dimer indicates recent or ongoing intravascular coagulat ...  Show more

The spinal cord serves as the main communication highway between the brain and body. Did you know that 80% of people with multiple sclerosis have spinal cord lesions on MRI? These lesions can disrupt specific neural pathways, leading to common MS symptoms like numbness, weakness, ...  Show more

Early in fetal development, the precursors of the major systems in the body are outlined. The three germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm) are formed during the third week of development. We’ll focus on the ectoderm, from which the entire nervous system (central and periphera ...  Show more

Before an evaluation, Arial is reviewing the patient's MRI report that describes sequestration at the L4 – L5 level. The intake form reveals sensory changes along the lateral calf, and dorsum of the foot. Which clinical finding is the most consistent with the medical record? A) I ...  Show more

The thoracic spine is one of the most overlooked keys to resolving chronic neck and back pain. Acting as the central anchor between the cervical and lumbar regions, it influences posture, breathing, rib motion, and spinal stability. When the thoracic spine becomes stiff or restri ...  Show more