[An infant case of spinal arteriovenous malformation with a large venous aneurysm]

An 18-month-old boy was admitted to our hospital with sudden onset of paraplegia, analgesia of the lower limbs, dysuria and constipation. His gestational and birth histories were unremarkable. Past history revealed he had lymphangioma in his left inguinal region, and had been treated in another hospital. Neurological examination revealed flaccid paraplegia, analgesia below Th12 dermatome and dysuria. MRI revealed an intramedullary high intensity lesion surrounded by round low intensity areas located from TH11 to L2 vertebral levels, suggesting the existence of vascular tumor or spinal AVM. Spinal angiogram revealed arteriovenous fistula with large intramedullary aneurysmal vascular dilatation from T12 to L2 vertebral level. The feeder was the Adamkiewicz artery which branched from the left Th12 intercostal artery. First, artificial embolization with thrombin gelfoam was performed successfully. However, follow-up MRI showed an image of flow void in the aneurysm again, indicating recanalization of the AVF. Therefore, an operation was undertaken on October 24th, 1988. The patient was placed in prone position and osteoplastic laminotomy from Th10-L2 was performed. The thrombus and wall of the aneurysm were mostly removed through the lumbosacral midline myelotomy for decompression. Then, the feeder and drainers were ligated. Postoperative course was uneventful. 2.5 years after the operation, he still had flaccid paralysis at the ankle joints bilaterally, analgesia below L4 dermatome, neurogenic bladder and constipation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)