Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons^™

Spontaneous Conus Medullary Infarction In The Absence Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Bavica Gummadi, Jaffer Ahmed, Swarna Rajagopalan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is rare and most often occurs in individuals with predisposing cardiovascular risk factors and traumatic injuries

As there are no distinct diagnostic criteria for SCI, diagnosis is difficult in patients presenting without predisposing factors and is often mistaken for transverse myelitis.

Delay in early diagnosis contributes to the high case fatality rate of SCI.

This case highlights the importance of including SCI in the differential of a patient with acute paraparesis even in the absence of co-existing risk factors.