Temporary Consciousness Disturbance in Van der Knaap disease after Minor Head Trauma

Abstract: Objectives: Van der Knaap disease, characterized by macrocephaly, ataxia, spasticity, and cognitive decline, is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease, Methods: Case report Results: A 9.5-year-old patient, who was followed up with the diagnoses of epilepsy and Van der Knaap disease, presented with deterioration of consciousness after minor head trauma. She only had a response to painful stimuli and did not respond to verbal stimuli. She needed nasogastric tube for feeding but no respiratory support. Her first cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse white matter signal abnormaliłies on both T1 and T2 weighted images. After head trauma, the patient underwent a non-contrast CT scan that showed prominent diffuse white matter hypodensity. Her comatose status lasted for over five months, and then gradually resolved. Conclusion: Neurodegenerative diseases can occur after a physical stress situation such as mild head trauma or febrile infection. In addition, minor head trauma may cause a temporary consciousness disturbance in van der knaap disease Key words: Consciousness disturbance, minor head trauma, temporary, Van der Knaap disease