Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases 2024;26(3):62-67

doi:10.18214/jend.2024.00045

Spinal Cord Infarction Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Insights

Kyeongil MIN 1 ; Myung Woo PARK ; Hyun Iee SHIN ; Byung Chan LEE ; Du Hwan KIM

Affiliations

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Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with various neurological complications, including the rare occurrence of spinal cord infarction. In this report, we present the case of a 42-year-old man who developed sudden quadriplegia after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided inconclusive results; however, subsequent imaging revealed diffusion restriction and vertebral body signal changes, indicative of ischemic changes in the spinal cord. The patient received anticoagulation and corticosteroid therapy followed by rehabilitation, resulting in partial recovery of motor function. This case illustrates the importance of considering spinal cord infarction in patients with COVID-19 who present with neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it highlights the crucial role of MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging, in diagnosis.