What type of injury is commonly associated with anterior cord syndrome?

Anterior cord syndrome is typically associated with flexion injuries of the cervical spine, where excessive forward bending of the neck can lead to damage of the anterior portion of the spinal cord. This kind of injury often results from traumatic incidents that cause the vertebrae in the cervical region to move excessively, which can compromise blood flow, leading to ischemia or direct injury of the anterior cord tissue.

In anterior cord syndrome, patients usually present with motor function loss below the injury level, particularly affecting motor pathways within the anterior part of the cord, while preserving some sensation through the dorsal columns responsible for proprioception and light touch. This preservation results because the posterior columns, which are primarily responsible for these sensory modalities, are located posteriorly in the spinal cord and may remain intact despite anterior injury.

Flexion injuries are therefore pivotal in understanding anterior cord syndrome, as they accurately explain the mechanism of injury that leads to the characteristic symptoms observed in affected individuals.