Spinal cord infarction secondary to intervertebral foraminal disease.

Abstract

The 5 year review of patients referred to one center. To report spinal cord infarction secondary to vascular occlusion from disease in a lower thoracic intervertebral foramen. The clinical and imaging findings of two cases with acute spinal cord dysfunction are presented. Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries, England. The CT and MR imaging features revealed lower thoracic unilateral foraminal occlusion due to acute facet joint septic arthritis in a diabetic patient, and secondary to chronic hypertrophic osteophytes in a second hypertensive individual. The presumed mechanism of infarction was occlusion of the artery of Adamkiewicz. Foraminal disease in the lower thoracic levels needs to be entertained in cases of unexplained nontraumatic acute spinal cord dysfunction.