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Recovery from paraplegia following aortic saddle embolism. Case report
G Chandrashekar1, P T Acharya, J Rao
1Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Ramaiah Institute of Cardiology, Gokula, Bangalore, India.
Paraplegia
|February 1, 1994
Summary
A rare case of aortic saddle embolus causing paraplegia showed neurological recovery after immediate surgery. Early intervention restoring blood flow to the great radicular artery (GRA) may prevent permanent paralysis.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Neurology
- Spinal Cord Medicine
Background:
- Aortic saddle embolus is a rare cause of sudden paraplegia.
- Neurological recovery from this condition is exceptionally uncommon.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old male presented with sudden onset paraplegia and absent lower limb pulsations.
- Immediate bilateral transfemoral embolectomy was performed.
Findings:
- The patient experienced neurological recovery over two months, regaining ambulation.
- The great radicular artery (GRA) originated at the L2 vertebral level, below T12.
- Postoperative imaging confirmed a patent GRA and normal spinal cord structure.
Implications:
- This case supports the hypothesis linking low GRA origin to paraplegia from saddle embolus.
- Early surgical restoration of blood flow may be crucial for preventing irreversible spinal cord damage and promoting recovery.