Effects of cervical deep muscle strengthening in a neck pain: a patient with klippel-feil syndrome

Cervical split cord malformation (diastematomyelia) with associated Klippel-Feil deformity presenting in adulthood with bimanual synkinesis

BACKGROUND

Split cord malformation (SCM) is a rare congenital malformation of the spinal cord in which the cord is split longitudinally. Identification and diagnosis in adulthood is rare, with the majority of cases diagnosed in the paediatric population. Isolated segmental cervical SCM is rarer still.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, the authors present the case of a 26-year-old female who presented with neck pain and longstanding bimanual synkinesis secondary to an isolated type II SCM in the C4-C7 region. The authors present this novel presenting symptom in adulthood and finding of isolated cervical SCM with associated blocked cervical vertebrae, in an otherwise normal neuroaxis and spinal column.

CONCLUSIONS

The case serves to highlight the importance of knowledge of this rare congenital condition to surgeons, physicians and radiologists involved in the care of both adult and paediatric patients presenting with spinal pathology.

The effects of eye coordination during deep cervical flexor training on the thickness of the cervical flexors

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify changes in the thicknesses of the cervical flexors according to eye coordination during deep cervical flexor training. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty normal adults were randomly selected, and during their deep cervical flexor training and eye tracking, the thicknesses of the longus colli and the sternocleidomastoid were measured using ultrasonic waves. [Results] The thickness of the longus colli statistically significantly increased when deep cervical flexor training and eye coordination were performed simultaneously. However, the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid did not show statistically significant differences according to eye coordination. [Conclusion] Eye coordination during deep cervical flexor training is likely to increase the thickness of the longus colli selectively.