Autonomic Hyperreflexia Following Passive Stretching to the Hip Joint

Excerpt

Autonomic hyperreflexia is a common complication occurring in patients with cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries. Signs and symptoms consist of a rapid rise of blood pressure accompanied by bradycardia, sweating, and a characteristic pounding headache. Usual precipitating stimuli are related to abnormalities or manipulation of bladder, bowel, or other abdominal viscera. Cutaneous and proprioceptive stimuli are less frequent provoking factors. This article describes three patients with autonomic hyperreflexia related to passive stretching of the hip joints.

CASE REPORTS

Patient 1. Five months after an automobile accident, a 21-year-old man with a complete anesthetic paraplegia below T1 noted daily headaches related to self-performed flexion of the hip. The range of motion achieved included passive straight leg raising almost pulling the ankle to the ear on both sides (passive straight leg raising range, 0–125° bilaterally).…