Subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy is a rare disorder, unrelated to syrinx formation or mechanical instability, which may gradually emerge within the first 1-2 weeks after a spinal cord injury and may lead to diagnostic and prognostic dilemmas. We present a case of 24-year-old female with unstable wedge compression fracture of L1 vertebrae with signal changes in the upper lumbar cord causing complete paraplegia below D9 with bladder and bowel involvement. In the subsequent week, she developed a delayed progressively increasing neurological deficit with cord signal abnormality on MRI extending cephalad from the injury site to the upper dorsal cord. The patient had no initial clinical improvement initially but showed a delayed recovery over months.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Spinal Fractures ; complications

Humans ; Spinal Cord Injuries/complications* ; Paralysis/etiology* ; Nervous System Diseases ; Brain

Adult ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; etiology

Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; etiology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; Spinal Diseases ; pathology ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; etiology ; Transplants ; adverse effects

Adult ; Back Injuries ; complications ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; etiology ; Wounds, Stab ; complications

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnosis and treatment of venous hypertensive myelopathy (VHM) caused by narrowing of the ascending lumbar vein.

METHODThe data from 3 patients with VHM caused by narrowing of the ascending lumbar vein were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSOnce the narrowed site of the lumbar ascending vein was determined by myelographic or angiographic technique, an undetachable balloon was introduced and advanced to the proximal part of the narrowed segment. Satisfactory results were obtained in these patients.

CONCLUSIONNarrowing of the ascending lumbar vein is one of the causes for VHM, and endovascular balloon angioplasty is an optimal treatment.

Aged ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Vascular Diseases ; etiology ; Venous Pressure

The use of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cell transplantation therapy holds great promise for repairing spinal cord injury. Here we report the first clinical trial transplantation of human umbilical cord (hUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the spinal cord of a dog suspected to have fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) and that experienced a loss of deep pain sensation. Locomotor functions improved following transplantation in a dog. Based on our findings, we suggest that transplantation of hUCB-derived MSCs will have beneficial therapeutic effects on FCEM patients lacking deep pain sensation.
Animals ; Cartilage Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/veterinary ; Dog Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Dogs ; Embolism/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Female ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Treatment Outcome

We report a rare case of progressive myelopathy caused by intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula with venous drainage into the spinal perimedullary veins. A 45-yr-old man developed urinary and fecal incontinence and muscle weakness in the lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed brainstem edema and dilated veins of the brainstem and spinal cord. Cerebral angiography showed a dural arteriovenous fistula fed by the neuromeningeal branch of the left ascending pharyngeal artery. Occlusion of the fistula could be achieved by embolization after a diagnostic and subsequent therapeutic delay. There was no improvement in clinical condition. For the neurologic outcome of these patients it is important that fistula must be treated before ischemic and gliotic changes become irreversible.
Spinal Cord Diseases/*etiology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Dura Mater/*blood supply ; Arteriovenous Fistula/*complications/diagnosis

Fifteen cases of Caisson's Disease or Decompression Sickness with spinal cord involvement treated at the Department of Rehabilitation Tan Tock Seng Hospital, from 1973 to 1978 are described. All the cases had bladder and bowel function involvement. Five cases developed bone complications, one of whom was referred to us primarily for rehabilitation after he had an operation for collapsed right femoral head which occurred two years after the incident.
Adult ; Decompression ; Decompression Sickness ; complications ; rehabilitation ; Diving ; Femur Head Necrosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; rehabilitation