UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Neurology

Title: An ischemic stroke.. of the spinal cord?

Keywords: infarct, paralysis, numbness (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/25/2018 by Danya Khoujah, MBBS
Click here to contact Danya Khoujah, MBBS

An infarct of the spinal cord is technically considered a stroke

The most common risk factor is a recent aortic surgery. Can also occur with straining and lifting (rare)

Patients will present with symptoms of spinal cord involvement with a hyperacute onset (less than 4 hours)

Although the “classic” presentation is anterior cord syndrome (flaccid paralysis, dissociated sensory loss (pinprick and temperature), preserved dorsal column function), patients may present with loss of all functions below the level of infarct due to spinal shock, confusing the clinical picture.

The most common level is T10

References

Rabinstein AA. Vascular myelopathies. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21(1 Spinal Cord Disorders):67-83.