Integrative treatment of paralytic small intestine following acute cervical cord injury: A case report

BACKGROUND: A patient developed paralysis of the small intestine following an acute traumatic hyperextension cervical spinal cord injury attributed to the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) C3–C6. The persistent ileus finally resolved utilizing Kampo medications (traditional Chinese therapy) consisting of both bukuryoin (TJ-69) and hangekobokuto (TJ-16). CASE DESCRIPTION: A 63-year-old male became acutely quadriplegic secondary to a hyperextension injury incurred during a fall. Radiographic studies confirmed mixed OPLL extending from C3–C6 resulting in marked cord compression, there was a clear spinal cord contusion. His neurological status using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scale was Grade “A;” there were was complete motor and sensory loss below the C5 level. After a C3–C6 expansive laminoplasty, the ASIA scale improved to Grade B. However, he then developed a persistent small intestine ileus resulting in marked abdominal distention. When conventional therapies failed to resolve the problem, Kampo medicines, consisting of both bukuryoin (TJ-69) and hangekobokuto (TJ-16), were administered. The ileus improved within 2 days and fully resolved within the 1(st) postoperative week. CONCLUSION: The utilization of Kampo medications, consisting of both bukuryoin (TJ-69) and hangekobokuto (TJ-16), or the combined bukuryoingohangekobokuto (TJ-116) effectively resolved a postoperative paralytic small bowel ileus following a cervical laminoplasty performed in a quadriplegic patient. KEYWORDS: Acute cervical cord injury, Cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligamentOPLL, Complication management, Integrative medicine, Paralytic small intestine