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Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cheshire, WP; Santos, CC; Massey, EW; Howard, JF
Published in: Neurology
August 1996

We reviewed 44 cases of ischemia and infarction of the spinal cord at two university hospitals. Three patients experienced transient ischemic attacks. Etiologies of completed strokes were diverse and included rupture and surgical repair of aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, aortic rupture and thrombosis, global ischemia, anterior spinal artery embolism, repair and thrombosis of spinal arteriovenous malformations, hematomyelia, epidural hematoma, cervical osteophytosis, celiac plexus block, systemic lupus erythematosus, coagulopathy, and decompression sickness. Motor function improved in 12 patients, was substantial in only one, and occurred largely within the first 2 to 4 weeks. Favorable ambulatory outcome correlated with improving neurologic examinations and relatively preserved strength in hip abductors and knee extensors. More extensive deficits without initial improvement portended a more severe prognosis. Autonomic dysfunction, pain, paresthesia, and depression were common and impeded recovery in some patients. The mean level of deficit was at T-8 and in cases of global ischemia was at T-9, which leads us to dispute the classical view of a midthoracic watershed zone of ischemic vulnerability near T-4.

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Published In

Neurology

DOI

ISSN

0028-3878

Publication Date

August 1996

Volume

47

Issue

2

Start / End Page

321 / 330

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spinal Cord
  • Prognosis
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Infarction
  • Humans
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aged
  • Adult
  • Adolescent
 

Citation

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Cheshire, W. P., Santos, C. C., Massey, E. W., & Howard, J. F. (1996). Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome. Neurology, 47(2), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.47.2.321
Cheshire, W. P., C. C. Santos, E. W. Massey, and J. F. Howard. “Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome.Neurology 47, no. 2 (August 1996): 321–30. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.47.2.321.
Cheshire WP, Santos CC, Massey EW, Howard JF. Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome. Neurology. 1996 Aug;47(2):321–30.
Cheshire, W. P., et al. “Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome.Neurology, vol. 47, no. 2, Aug. 1996, pp. 321–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1212/wnl.47.2.321.
Cheshire WP, Santos CC, Massey EW, Howard JF. Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome. Neurology. 1996 Aug;47(2):321–330.

Published In

Neurology

DOI

ISSN

0028-3878

Publication Date

August 1996

Volume

47

Issue

2

Start / End Page

321 / 330

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spinal Cord
  • Prognosis
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Infarction
  • Humans
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aged
  • Adult
  • Adolescent