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Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is a rare vascular event accounting for 1% of all strokes. Neurological syndromes may vary according to the arterial territory involved. This condition may differ in onset, severity, and recovery, making it a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Diagnosis is made on a clinical basis, and neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) provides confirmatory evidence. A 72-year-old male, with a medical history of being overweight, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, and cigarette smoking presented to our emergency department (ED) with sudden-onset leg weakness. He reported chest pain with radiation to the back, followed by sudden arm and leg weakness, evolving to inferior limb plegia within four hours. He also noticed a loss of sensation below the breast region. On admission, vital signs were stable. Neurological examination demonstrated paraplegia of inferior limbs with absent deep tendon reflexes. Both pinprick, vibrational, and proprioceptive sensitivities were absent below T6. A diagnostic workup revealed lactescent serum suggesting severe hypertriglyceridemia. A clinical diagnosis of spinal cord infarction was made, which was later confirmed with MRI demonstrating an acute ischemic lesion in the anterior spinal artery (ASA) with the "owl's eye" sign, from T5 with extension to the cone. Neurological examination remained unaltered. He started aspirin and insulin perfusion. Since spinal cord injury is an uncommon cause of paraplegia, physicians should be extremely cautious. Despite the results of magnetic resonance imaging, the clinical picture was not consistent, which was finally explained by perilesional edema. To our knowledge, this is a rare case combining SCI with hypertriglyceridemia. Notwithstanding the lack of evidence linking reducing triglyceride levels to neurological recovery, insulin infusion was carried out given the hazards associated with sustaining such high levels of triglycerides. We aim to emphasize some characteristic MRI findings and the wealth of possible etiologies contributing to this clinical entity.

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Purpose: The aim of the article is to outline the frequency of the occurrence, course, diagnosis and possible treatment of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) on the basis of a literature overview and to raise awareness of this rare yet devastating condition. Views: SCI, when compared to cerebral stroke, is a relatively rare disease, being diagnosed 100 times less often. Our knowledge as to its root causes, proper treatment for it and long-term prognosis is still inconclusive. Magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion- weighted contrast is a main tool with which to confirm SCI and rule out a broad spectrum of possible alternative diagnoses. SCI is a condition in which prompt recognition, accurate diagnostic steps, and reperfusion therapy are essential to ensure a desirable functional outcome and reduce mortality and disability. Although there are no specific guidelines regarding treatment, the administration of rt-PA might be an effective therapy for acute ischemic stroke, preventing permanent spinal dysfunction. In surgical causes close cooperation between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon is necessary to provide combined appropriate management promptly. Conclusions: Due to the relative rarity of SCI, multi-center studies of ischemia of the spinal cord and its treatment would be advisable in neurological practice to enhance current knowledge. A rapid diagnosis is crucial for appropriate care and desirable long-term outcomes.

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Introduction: Spinal cord infarction is a rare but serious neurologic complication of spinal anesthesia. Direct vessel injury, intra-arterial anesthetic injection, and anesthetic-induced local hypotension are potential mechanisms of infarction during this procedure. The proximity of the artery of Adamkiewicz to the spinal levels used for spinal anesthesia may also play a role. This case of unilateral anterior spinal artery syndrome highlights the potential for an atypical pattern of injury and deficits due to the complexity of the spinal cord's anterior circulation. Case Presentation: We present a 38-year-old female patient who presented with left lower extremity weakness, loss of temperature sensation, and urinary retention following spinal anesthesia for cesarian section. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine demonstrated T2 hyperintensities in the left central spinal cord from T8 to the conus medullaris. A diagnosis of spinal cord infarction was made after lumbar puncture testing showed no evidence of inflammatory myelitis. The patient was treated with steroids empirically until lumbar puncture testing showed no inflammation. The patient was discharged on daily aspirin with persistent left lower extremity weakness and loss of temperature sensation. A plan for outpatient physical therapy was made for rehabilitation. Conclusion: Awareness of the potential for spinal cord infarction secondary to spinal anesthesia must increase among anesthesiologists, obstetricians, and neurologists. The risk of systemic hypotension during and after spinal anesthesia is important to recognize for both primary and secondary prevention of this complication. The hyperacute onset of myelopathic symptoms should point neurologists to investigate an ischemic etiology in the proper clinical context.

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Introduction: Acute Leriche syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Pain, pallor, and coldness of the lower extremities serve as clues for suspecting Leriche syndrome. However, the absence of these findings may pose a diagnostic challenge. Case Presentation: An 83-year-old man presented at our emergency department with a complaint of sudden-onset paraparesis. Initially, spinal cord infarction was suspected due to clinical course and neurological findings, but thoracolumbar MRI showed normal findings. On admission, symptoms associated with aortoiliac occlusion were not present, except for muscle atrophy in the thigh. CT angiography revealed aortoiliac occlusion, leading to a diagnosis of Leriche syndrome. Conclusion: Leriche syndrome should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis in patients with acute paraparesis. Muscle atrophy of the lower limbs disproportionate to the clinical course may be the clue for suspecting acute Leriche syndrome with symptoms related to atherosclerotic occlusion which are inconspicuous.

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Anterior spinal artery syndrome (ASAS) is a rare form of spinal cord infarction, making its incidence and prevalence difficult to determine. We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with multiple vascular risk factors who experienced a sudden onset of severe lower limb weakness, raising immediate concerns about spinal cord ischemia. Diagnostic evaluations confirmed ASAS, although the exact cause and mechanism of her spinal cord infarction remained undetermined. The potential presence of significant cervical disc disease suggests fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) as a possible underlying mechanism, despite the lack of direct evidence. This case underscores the importance of clinical awareness and timely intervention in patients with similar symptoms and vascular risk factors. Early recognition, cause identification, and appropriate management are crucial for improving outcomes in spinal cord ischemia, guiding specific treatment strategies, and potentially preventing recurrence.

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Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is an uncommon vascular syndrome that leads to neurologic abnormalities with multiple implicated causes. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a non-surgical invasive procedure used to relieve an arterial occlusion or narrowing that causes ischemia to the heart. This is usually performed by different methods and different arterial access sites. Here, we present a case of a patient who developed bilateral lower limb weakness eight days after a femoral artery PCI and was diagnosed with SCI. This case report aims to document a rare complication and highlight the most important demographic, investigation, management, risk factors, and prognosis data available in the literature.

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Spinal cord watershed infarction is a rare phenomenon due to the rich collateral blood supply to the organ. It often occurs in elderly patients with preexisting atherosclerotic disease in the setting of global hypoperfusion, such as thoracoabdominal surgery, dissection, coagulopathies, or idiopathic. We present a case of spinal cord infarction (SCI) in both longitudinal and transverse watershed areas as a complication of postoperative blood loss. In addition, we demonstrate the imaging evolution of spinal cord infarct in the subacute phase with peripheral enhancement due to the breakdown of the blood-spinal cord barrier.

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BACKGROUND: In recent years, there have anecdotal reports of intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) for the treatment of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) with encouraging results. We describe a patient with acute cervical SCI who underwent IAT with Tenecteplase at our institution. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of progressive onset upper and lower extremity numbness, weakness, and urinary incontinence after sustaining a fall. MRI of cervical spine demonstrated T2 and STIR hyperintensity in the ventral aspect of the spinal cord spanning the C3, C4, and C5 levels suggestive of SCI. He demonstrated progression of neurologic deficits to C4 ASIA B spinal cord injury with complete loss of motor function, diminished sensation, and absent rectal tone. Emergent angiography was performed with prominent anterior spinal supply via the left ascending cervical artery. A total of 30 mg of Tenecteplase was administered intra-arterially in the bilateral vertebral arteries, bilateral ascending cervical arteries, and bilateral inferior thyroid arteries. Two-week post-intervention neurologic examination demonstrated improvement in injury level and severity. The patient was C6 ASIA C SCI, with 2/5 strength in the distal upper and lower extremities and improved sensation. CONCLUSION: IAT with Tenecteplase may be a feasible option for the treatment of acute spinal cord ischemia in carefully selected patients.

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A 75-year-old man developed sudden-onset tetraparesis preceded by chest pain. MRI of the cervical spine on the day of onset showed no abnormalities. Although his motor symptoms improved gradually, the weakness of the muscles innervated by the C5 nerve root persisted. Sensory and autonomic deficits were detected on an additional neurological examination, and follow-up MRI eight days after onset revealed spinal cord infarction at the right anterior horn at C3-C4. This case suggests that motor symptoms mimicking a radiculopathy could be present during the course of spinal cord infarction.

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Objective：Studies on upper extremity functional interventions for patients with spinal cord infarction are limited, and the effectiveness of the interventions for upper limb paresis in such patients have not been elucidated. This case report describes evidence-based spinal cord injury interventions that improved upper extremity function in a patient with spinal cord infarction.Methods：A man in his 60s presented with mild right hemiplegia because of right anterior spinal artery infarction in the C5 medullary segment. Upon admission, the patient had an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale of D, lacked cognitive impairment, and demonstrated independence indoors with ambulation. The intervention included a combination of robotic therapy and electrical stimulation, adherence-enhancing behavioral strategies (Transfer Package), and typical occupational therapy. We recorded the following upper extremity functional scores：①Active Range of Motion of the shoulder, ②Passive Range of Motion of the shoulder, ③Manual Muscle Test, ④Grip strength, ⑤Pinch strength, ⑥Action Research Arm Test, ⑦Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function, and ⑧Motor Activity Log.Results：After intervention therapy for 39 days, upper extremity function and the degree and quality of arm use in daily activities improved.Conclusion：These results suggest that evidence-based interventions for spinal cord injury could improve upper extremity function and the degree and quality of arm use in daily activities in patients with cervical spinal cord infarcti.

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Aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is characterized by blood spilling through the intimal layer of the aortic wall without any tear within the aortic wall. The condition has been troublesome to analyze until of late. A 55-year-old gentleman with hypertension presented with epigastric pain radiating to the back, he later developed back pain as well as bilateral lower limb numbness and was found to have IMH when a CT angiogram was conducted. Due to the severity of the illness, the patient expired on the 10th day of the admission. It is important for physicians to be aware of atypical presentations of this life-threatening aortic disease.

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The differential diagnosis of inflammatory and non-inflammatory myelopathy can be challenging. Clinical information such as age, gender, speed of onset and progression, systemic symptoms, spinal cord and brain MRI, autoantibodies, and cerebrospinal fluid findings are necessary. The speed of onset is particularly important for differentiation. Inflammatory myelopathy typically follows an acute/subacute course, while spinal cord infarction presents with a hyperacute course, and intramedullary tumors often have a chronic progressive course. Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula usually shows a chronic progressive course, but it can present with fluctuating symptoms in the early stages and may appear as an acute onset. It is essential to definitively exclude compressive myelopathy for the diagnosis of inflammatory myelopathy. Even if a definitive diagnosis cannot be made, regular reevaluation during treatment is necessary.

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Ischemic myelopathy is uncommon in the pediatric population, with fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) being one of its rarest causes. We present the case of an otherwise healthy 17-year-old student who experienced sudden onset of severe low-back pain amidst intensive physical training, which rapidly deteriorated to complete sensory-motor paralysis of his lower limbs. He was treated with IV Methylprednisolone and anticoagulation after the initial work-up suggested spinal cord infarction. After eight days, sufficient clinical-radiological correlation was achieved to support FCE diagnosis as the most likely cause of infarction. He subsequently received inpatient rehabilitation treatment for four months, after which he was followed as an outpatient for a total period of 16 months. While significant neurological and functional gains were achieved during this period, he also experienced some worsening. This case highlights the importance both of performing a thorough assessment and being familiar with FCE as a possible differential diagnosis of spinal cord infarction in children, to facilitate its timely identification and proper acute and long-term management. This case report was prepared following CARE guidelines after obtaining the patient's written informed consent.

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Introduction: Spinal cord infarction secondary to ankylosing spondylitis is a rare but severe disorder. Case presentation: Here we present a case of acute spinal cord infarction in a 54 years-old man with a medical history of ankylosing spondylitis, scoliosis, and hypotension. The patient complained of a sudden onset of lower limb weakness. A physical examination showed that he suffered from a dissociative sensory disorder, paralysis, and concomitant sphincter disturbances. After undergoing a whole-spine MRI, he was diagnosed with an acute ischemic injury from T2 to T5. As he did not treat his ankylosing spondylitis, it later caused a spinal deformity, making the lumbar puncture technically challenging. However, using Taylor's approach, a CSF sample was successfully obtained. A CSF biochemical test ruled out myelitis, NMOSD, and MS. After receiving treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin, atorvastatin calcium, and methylprednisolone, his sphincter function gradually recovered, but his strength was only partially restored. Conclusion: Although this is a rare entity, it is necessary for physicians to consider it when evaluating patients with a sudden loss of sensation and strength in their lower limbs.

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Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is a rare neurovascular disorder often presented with acute spinal cord syndrome. The diagnosis is generally made clinically, with appropriate neuroimaging to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other causes. We present an unusual case of a 48-year-old woman with no relevant past medical history, admitted with acute paraparesis and a spinal cord infarct on magnetic resonance imaging. A thorough investigation revealed asymptomatic unknown heart failure secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, suggestive of a cardioembolic etiology. The patient was treated with anticoagulation and improved significantly with physical rehabilitation.

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The purpose of our study was to assess the usefulness of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in differentiating between a normal spinal cord and a spinal cord with acute ischemia. Control group of 113 and 8 acute spinal cord ischemia patients were enrolled in this study. The ADC values were measured when diffusion-weighted imaging was first performed after the onset of acute spinal cord ischemia. The mean ADC value each of the control group and acute spinal cord ischemia patients was 0.99 ± 0.19 × 10-3 mm2/s and 0.70 ± 0.15 × 10-3 mm2/s. The mean ADC value in patients with acute spinal cord ischemia was significantly lower than that in patients with a normal spinal cord (P < 0.01). We found the cutoff ADC value (0.86 × 10-3 mm2/s) to be a useful indicator of acute spinal cord ischemia (sensitivity = 100.0%, specificity = 71.7%, AUC = 0.92). In conclusions, it is suggested that the ADC value may be useful in the diagnosis of acute spinal cord ischemia.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is a rare type of stroke, with no proposed classification or diagnostic criterium widely accepted and used in daily clinical practice currently. We try to explore the clinical manifestations and MRI features of SCI for improving the accurate diagnosis of SCI. METHODS: Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, MRI features, laboratory findings and outcomes of 40 patients who had been consecutively diagnosed with SCI in our hospital from June 2016 to January 2022. RESULTS: Most of the SCI (92.5%) occurred at the level of T8-L2 and C4-T4. Transverse infarction (52.5%) and ASA territory infarction (27.5%) were the most common patterns. Longitudinally extensive lesions were noticed in 67.5% of the SCI and it might be a risk factor of poor prognosis (OR=21.11, 95%CI 2.14-208.29). Restricted diffusion of the SCI lesion occurred in 8h and a few lasted up to 60 days. All SCI showed spinal cord edema, accompanied by enhancement of the ventral cauda equina (13.8%), weakened enhancement of the dorsal venous plexus (44.8%), and vertebral infarction (25%). Most patients developed a stroke-like onset (92.5%) after movement (57.5%), with definite pain in the trunk or limbs (67.5%) and dissociative sensory disturbance (60.0%). The main etiologies of them include vascular abnormalities (45%) and iatrogenic injuries (15%). CONCLUSION: An MRI classification of SCI based on the spinal cord blood supply was proposed. Restricted diffusion and co-existing abnormality of vertebral body and cauda equina may be the key neuroimaging feature for SCI diagnosis. Detailed history of vascular diseases or triggering factors are also helpful.

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Introducción: El infarto medular es una entidad infrecuente y con elevada morbilidad. El diag-nóstico puede resultar difícil y el tratamiento óptimo sigue siendo controvertido. Existen pocasseries de casos publicadas.Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de infarto medular en un hospital terciario desde 1999 a 2020.Se evaluaron la etiología, las características clínicas, radiológicas, terapéuticas y pronósticas.Resultados: Se incluyeron 41 pacientes (58,5% varones, edad media 61 ±17 a˜nos). Treinta y unpacientes (75,6%) presentaban factores de riesgo vascular (FRV). Presentaron déficit motor (39,95,1%), dolor (20, 48,8%), déficit sensitivo (33, 80,4%) y alteración autonómica (24, 58,5%). Serealizó resonancia magnética (RM) en 37 pacientes (90,2%). En los 12 pacientes con secuenciasde difusión, esta estaba alterada en 10. La localización más afectada fue la dorsal (68,2%). Serealizó estudio vascular en 33 pacientes (80,4%). Las etiologías más frecuentes fueron disecciónaórtica en 6, ateroesclerosis demostrada en estudio vascular en 6, embolia fibrocartilaginosa en6, posquirúrgico en 5 e hipotensión en 4. El mecanismo etiológico quedó sin filiar en 12 pacientes(29,3%), 9 presentaban FRV. Al final del periodo de seguimiento (mediana 24 meses, rangointercuartílico 3-70), 12 pacientes (29,2%) presentaban deambulación autónoma. La presenciade FRV y la paraparesia se asociaron significativamente a peor pronóstico (p < 0,05).Discusión: El infarto medular es una patología con una etiología variada, que en muchos delos pacientes queda sin resolver. El pronóstico funcional a largo plazo es malo y depende de lascaracterísticas basales del paciente y de la forma de presentación clínica. La RM, especialmentelas secuencias de difusión, es útil en el diagnóstico precoz.(AU)

Introduction: Spinal cord infarction is a rare disease with a high rate of morbidity. Its diagnosiscan be challenging and controversy remains regarding the best treatment. Few case series havebeen published.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of cases of spinal cord infarction attended ina tertiary hospital from 1999 to 2020. Aetiology and clinical, imaging, and prognostic featureswere assessed.Results: Forty-one patients (58.5% men, mean [standard deviation] age 61 [17] years) wereincluded in the study. Thirty-one patients (75.6%) presented vascular risk factors. Motor deficitswere recorded in 39 (95.1%), pain in 20 (48.8%), sensory deficits in 33 (80.4%), and autonomicdysfunction in 24 (58.5%). MRI was performed in 37 (90.2%) patients. Diffusion-weighted imageswere available for 12 patients, with 10 showing diffusion restriction. The thoracic region wasthe most frequently affected (68.2%). Vascular imaging studies were performed in 33 patients(80.4%). The most frequent aetiologies were aortic dissection (6 cases), atherosclerosis demons-trated by vascular imaging (6 cases), fibrocartilaginous embolism (6 cases), surgery (5 cases),and hypotension (4 cases). Aetiology was undetermined in 12 patients (29.3%), although 9 ofthese presented vascular risk factors. At the end of the follow-up period (median, 24 months;interquartile range, 3-70), 12 patients (29.2%) were able to walk without assistance. Vascularrisk factors and paraparesis were significantly associated with poorer prognosis (P < .05).Discussion: Spinal cord infarction may present diverse aetiologies, with the cause remainingundetermined in many patients. Long-term functional prognosis is poor, and depends on baselinecharacteristics and clinical presentation. MRI, and especially diffusion-weighted sequences, isuseful for early diagnosis.(AU)

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