A Case of Accidental Hypothermia Caused by Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

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Accidental hypothermia is the state in which body temperature falls due for exposure to a chilly environment. In accidental hypothermia, the mortality rate is higher the lower the body temperature. We report a case of a consciousness disorder and severe hypothermia, with a body temperature below 28°C, in which it later became clear that a cervical spinal cord injury had been caused by a small external force. A 70-year old woman was transported to our hospital in an ambulance for consciousness disturbance and severe hypothermia. At the time of arrival, her rectal temperature was 26.2°C. We promptly performed rewarming. Her consciousness level became clear, but paralysis and diminished sensation were observed below the C5 domain. We suspected cervical spinal cord injury and performed cervical magnetic resonance imaging. She was diagnosed as having C5 cervical spinal cord injury. When there is a consciousness disorder due to accidental hypothermia, it might not be possible to evaluate the neurological value of the cervical spinal cord injury correctly. The presence of cervical spinal cord injury should be considered when patients have a decreased consciousness level due to hypothermia.