https://doi.org/10.4081/pjm.2021.110

Acute spinal cord infarction syndrome unusually mimicking Transverse myelitis: A case report

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2021)
Submitted: 21 September 2020
Accepted: 21 May 2021
Published: 14 July 2021
Spinal cord, infarction, anterior spinal artery, paraplegia
Abstract Views: 236
PDF: 138
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Authors

Aliyu Ibrahim
aliyubng@yahoo.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2427-4922
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Aisha Shuaibu
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
Usman Adamu Nuhu
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Hauwa A. Aliyu
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0068-7968
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.

Anterior Spinal Cord Infarction (ASCI) syndrome typically results from ischemia that affects the anterior spinal artery territory characterized by history of sudden onset flaccid paraplegia or quadriplegia depending on the level of the lesion. We describe a 57-years-old woman with sudden onset flaccid weakness of the lower limbs and numbness of the feet of two days duration, preceded by a day history of fever and several episodes of vomiting. Examination initially revealed bilateral hypotonia, hyporeflexia and dense paraplegia, with preservation of dorsal column sensations (fine touch/2-point discrimination, position and vibration sensation). Twenty-four hours thereafter a repeat examination showed hyper-reflexia and extensor plantar response with spastic paraplegia. Thoracic spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed thinning of the spinal cord extending from T1 to T9 levels with associated widening of the thecal sac suggestive of anterior spinal cord infarction with no other signal changes seen within the substance.

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How to Cite

Ibrahim, Aliyu, Aisha Shuaibu, Usman Adamu Nuhu, and Hauwa A. Aliyu. 2021. “Acute Spinal Cord Infarction Syndrome Unusually Mimicking Transverse Myelitis: A Case Report”. Pyramid Journal of Medicine 4 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/pjm.2021.110.

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