Spinal cord infarction as a severe complication of meningococcal meningitis.

Eur J Intern Med · 2003

case_report · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Spinal cord infarction is a rare complication of bacterial meningitis and is, therefore, generally unknown. We describe a patient who developed a flaccid paraparesis 2 weeks after being diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. The etiology of spinal cord infarction is multifactorial, but vascular mechanisms and coagulation abnormalities play an important role. Epidural hemorrhage and spinal abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis.