Central cord syndrome typically results from which type of injury?

Central cord syndrome is primarily associated with hyperextension injuries of the cervical spine. This type of injury commonly occurs in cases such as falls or accidents where the head is forcefully thrown backward. The mechanism of hyperextension results in the damage to the central part of the spinal cord while sparing the peripheral areas.

In central cord syndrome, the injury often leads to upper extremity weakness and varying degrees of motor and sensory loss, particularly affecting the hands and arms, while the lower extremities may be less affected. This clinical presentation aligns with the nature of hyperextension injuries, which tend to cause disproportionate damage to the neural structures responsible for upper limb function compared to those for the lower limbs.

Other types of injuries mentioned, such as flexion, compression, or penetrating injuries, do not typically produce central cord syndrome. Flexion injuries can lead to different patterns of spinal cord damage, often affecting the anterior part of the cord and leading to different clinical manifestations. Compression injuries can result from a host of mechanisms, including tumors or bone fragments, but they generally do not specifically align with the characteristics of central cord syndrome. Penetrating injuries usually cause focal deficits depending on the path of the injury and do not typically lead to the diffuse upper limb weakness seen in