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Paraplegia due to Spinal Cord Infarction After Lifting Heavy Objects
Sung-Ho Lee1, Sung-Bum Kim, Seok-Geun Choi
1Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyung-Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
|December 20, 2008
Summary
Spinal cord infarction is a rare cause of sudden paralysis after exertion. This case highlights a potential diagnosis for unexplained paraplegia following lifting injuries.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Spinal Cord Medicine
Background:
- Spinal cord infarction is an uncommon neurological emergency.
- It typically presents with acute motor and sensory deficits.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old woman developed sudden paraplegia after lifting.
- Initial investigations, including imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, were unremarkable.
Findings:
- Despite the lack of definitive radiological evidence, spinal cord infarction was the presumed diagnosis.
- This presentation underscores the challenges in diagnosing rare vascular events in the spinal cord.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering spinal cord infarction in cases of acute, unexplained paralysis, even with normal initial workup.
- Suggests that subtle or early-stage spinal cord infarction may not be apparent on standard diagnostic tests.
- Emphasizes the need for further research into the diagnostic criteria and management of spinal cord infarction.
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