Spontaneous thoracolumbar spinal cord infarction: report of six cases

Acta Neurol Scand. 1992 Dec;86(6):563-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1992.tb05487.x.

Abstract

We present a retrospective study of 6 patients with spinal cord infarction in the territory of the Adamkiewicz artery. In all patients, the clinical picture was stereotyped: sudden onset of paraplegia and bilateral radicular pain, dissociated sensory loss below the level of infarction and sphincter dysfunction. Emergency neuroradiological investigation ruled out a compressive lesion in all cases. In one patient, spinal angiography was performed and identified an occlusion of the Adamkiewicz artery. Treatment was supportive and all patients had a substantial recovery over a period of weeks.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed