Dissociative sensory loss

Dissociated sensory loss refers to sensory loss caused by lesion of a single tract, resulting in the loss of either the spinothalamic tract or the dorsal column, but not both.

• Lesion of spinothalamic tract with intact dorsal column
  • Occurs in anterior cord syndrome, central cord syndrome, conus medullaris syndrome
  • -> loss of pain and temperature sensation
• Lesion of dorsal column with intact spinothalamic tract
  • Occurs in posterior cord syndrome
  • -> loss of fine touch, sensation of vibration, and proprioception