Acute atraumatic quadriparesis in a college football player

Transverse myelitis is a rare neurologic disorder. It is an interruption of spinal cord function not caused by macrotrauma. Symptoms develop rapidly a nd consist of ascending paralysis, diminished or absent sensation below the cervical or thoracic region, and often urinary retention. Etiologies inclu de parainfectious events, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disorders, vascula r insufficiency, paraneoplastic myelopathy, postvaccinial events, idiopathi c occurrence, and minimal trauma. Treatment generally consists of supportiv e measures. The use of steroids to hasten recovery remains controversial bu t is routine in most cases. The time period and degree of recovery is varia ble. We present a case of rapid onset of neurologic symptoms in a college f ootball player right before a game. No other sports related cases have been reported in the sports medicine literature. Diagnostic, therapeutic, and h istorical aspects of this rare but important disorder are discussed.