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Reproducable Paraplegia by Thoracic Aortic Occlusion in a Murine Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia-reperfusion
Published on: March 3, 2014
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Acute Paraplegia due to Thoracic Hematomyelia
Aykut Akpınar1, Bahattin Celik2, Ihsan Canbek3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Haseki Research and Training Hospital, Aksaray Street, Fatih, 34130 Istanbul, Turkey.
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
|August 2, 2016
Summary
Idiopathic spontaneous hematomyelia, a rare spinal cord condition, presents suddenly with neurological symptoms. Early MRI diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial for managing this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Spontaneous intraspinal intramedullary hemorrhage is rare, often presenting with acute neurological deficits.
- Idiopathic spontaneous hematomyelia (ISH) lacks a known cause and has limited case reports.
- Common causes of hematomyelia include trauma, vascular malformations, tumors, bleeding disorders, and infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of idiopathic spontaneous hematomyelia in an elderly male.
- To highlight the diagnostic utility of MRI in acute spinal cord syndromes.
- To discuss urgent management strategies for spontaneous spinal cord hemorrhage.
Main Methods:
- Case report of an 80-year-old male with sudden back pain and paraplegia.
- Diagnostic imaging utilizing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
- Review of literature on non-traumatic spinal cord hemorrhage.
Main Results:
- MRI confirmed intramedullary hemorrhage, leading to acute spinal cord syndrome.
- The patient presented with sudden onset paraplegia.
- Idiopathic etiology was presumed due to the absence of identifiable causes.
Conclusions:
- Idiopathic spontaneous hematomyelia is a rare but critical diagnosis.
- Prompt MRI is essential for accurate and timely diagnosis.
- Urgent interventions, including high-dose steroids and surgical decompression, are vital for managing spinal cord compression and destruction.
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