Acute paraplegia in a healthy child

Abstract

A previously healthy 12 year old girl presented to the emergency department with two days of bilateral leg pain and the inability to walk.\n\nShe had no history of trauma, back pain, weight loss, night sweats, cough, or fever. She was born in India and moved to the UK at one year of age.\n\nClinical assessment showed a well child, with a non-tender mid thoracic swelling of the spine, and neurological examination showed upper motor neurone weakness of both legs.\n\nShe developed urine retention 24 hours after presentation. Radiographs of the chest …