title: [Infarction of the spinal cord in the posterior spinal arterial supply area as a result of intervertebral disc embolism (author's transl)].
abstract: A female patient aged 49 developed an acute transverse lesion of the spinal cord from D11 downwards. Autopsy revealed spinal cord infarcts mainly in the dorsal parts corresponding to the posterior spinal arterial supply area, caused by multiple arterial and venous fibrocartilaginous emboli. This particular cause of spinal vascular syndrome has been reported previously only in 11 patients, all outside Austria. This case report serves to stress the poor clinical delineation of a distinct "posterior spinal syndrome". The source of the emboli is the intervertebral disc, mainly the nucleus pulposus. The spinal cord vessels are probably entered by the following route: extrusion of disc material into the venous bone marrow sinus (probably favoured by trauma or endocrine factors) yield basivertebral veins yield internal vertebral venous plexus; the spread is supported by blood stream changes caused by increased intraabdominal/intrathoracic pressure; there is also the possibility of direct penetration of disc material into the internal vertebral plexus, as demonstrated in dogs yield radicular veins yield meningeal and cord veins; sometimes entry occurs through arteriovenous shunts into cord arteries. The true incidence of this condition is unknown since cases are likely to be overlooked in the absence of extensive histopathological investigation.
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home; D004617:Embolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Bandscheibengewebsembolien in Spinalgefässen als Ursache von Myelomalazien vorwiegend in Spinalis-posterior-Versorgungsgebieten.