Which syndrome occurs when the lateral half of the spinal cord is injured?

Brown-Sequard syndrome occurs when there is damage to one half of the spinal cord, leading to a distinctive pattern of neurological deficits. This syndrome is characterized by ipsilateral motor loss and proprioceptive loss, as the corticospinal tract and dorsal columns, which are responsible for these functions, travel up the same side of the body before crossing over at different levels. On the contralateral side, patients experience loss of pain and temperature sensation due to the crossing of the spinothalamic tract. This unique combination of symptoms helps to confirm the diagnosis of Brown-Sequard syndrome when there is lateral spinal cord injury.

In contrast, central cord syndrome typically results from injury to the center of the spinal cord, leading to greater motor impairment in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs, but does not involve unilateral injury. Anterior cord syndrome results from loss of blood flow to the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord, affecting both motor function and pain/temperature sensation while sparing proprioception. Cauda equina syndrome involves the nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord, leading to lower motor neuron symptoms and bladder or bowel dysfunction.