Intermittent claudication due to ischaemia of the lumbosacral plexus
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Zentralklinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstrasse 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Dr W A Wohlgemuth, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Zentralklinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstrasse 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany. email w.wohlgemuth{at}online.de
- Received 18 February 1999
- Revised 14 June 1999
- Accepted 16 July 1999
Abstract
The distinct clinical syndrome of exercise induced ischaemia of the lumbosacral plexus is not a widely known cause for intermittent claudication. Eight patients with the mentioned syndrome were investigated clinically, neurophysiologically, and with imaging techniques. The clinical examination showed a typical exercise induced sequence of symptoms: pain, paraesthesia, and sensory and motor deficits. The underlying vascular conditions were high grade stenoses or occlusions of the arteries supplying the lumbosacral plexus. Spinal stenosis could be excluded in all cases. Five patients received successful interventional radiological therapy. The syndrome can be diagnosed clinically and successful therapy is possible by interventional radiology.
