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Spinal cord infarction following meningitis
P Mathew1, N V Todd, D M Hadley
1Department of Neurosurgery, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.
British Journal of Neurosurgery
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Delayed paraplegia occurred after head injury and meningitis. Surgery revealed extensive thoracic spinal cord necrosis, suggesting spinal cord infarction as a potential cause.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Minor head injuries can rarely lead to severe neurological deficits.
- Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
- Delayed onset of neurological symptoms requires thorough investigation.
Observation:
- A patient developed paraplegia weeks after a minor head injury and meningitis.
- Surgical exploration revealed significant necrosis of the thoracic spinal cord.
- No direct trauma to the spinal cord was evident.
Findings:
- Extensive spinal cord necrosis was confirmed during surgery.
- The clinical presentation suggests a possible vascular compromise.
- Spinal cord infarction is a leading hypothesis for the observed necrosis.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare but severe complication of head injury and meningitis.
- It underscores the importance of considering spinal cord infarction in delayed neurological deficits.
- Further research into the mechanisms of spinal cord infarction following infection and trauma is warranted.