Anterior spinal cord infarct: a rare yet disabling stroke

We present a case which demonstrates the classical clinical symptoms and signs evident in an anterior spinal cord syndrome and explains the anatomical basis for the features seen with respect to the ascending and descending tracts in the spinal cord. It also demonstrates the clinical importance in conducting a detailed sensory examination to look for dissociated sensory loss and ascertaining the level of the pathology within the cord. The patient had made improvements following over a month of extensive rehabilitation on a specialist stroke unit.