title: [Myelomalacia caused by embolism of the substantia gelatinosa in the vertebral column and spinal cord arteries].
abstract: A 56 year old woman developed a transverse lumbar paraplegia within two hours following a jump from an 80 centimeter high window. The patient died 13 days later from a pulmonary embolus. At autopsy an intervertebral disc tissue embolus was found in the arteries to the 12th thoracic vertebral body and the spinal cord. The embolus originated in a Schmorl nodule in the 12th thoracic vertebral body. The findings and the clinical course suggest that dislodged nucleus pulposus tissue was expressed into the vascular system over some time as a result of tears in small vessels. The implications for treatment of patients with similar spinal cord symptoms are considered.
mesh_terms: D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Myelomalazie durch Embolie von Bandscheibengewebe in Wirbelkörper- und Rückenmarksarterien.