Ischemic stroke of the cervical spinal cord: a review and case report

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ischemic spinal cord stroke is a rare condition, accounting for approximately 1% of all spinal cord strokes. The relevance of this publication is determined by the rarity of the condition, the complexity of differential diagnosis with other acute onset myelopathic syndromes, the severity of spinal stroke outcomes, and insufficient awareness among physicians regarding this condition in children.

CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a clinical case of acute myelopathic syndrome in an 8-year-old child. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spinal cord correlated with the clinical findings and indicated impaired circulation in anterior spinal artery at the cervical spinal level.

DISCUSSION: Acute impairment of spinal cord circulation may be caused by systemic hypotension; occlusion of spinal cord-supplying vessels (traumatic, iatrogenic, thrombotic, or embolic); arterial dissection; arteriovenous malformations and fistulas; or hypercoagulable states.

CONCLUSION: In pediatric patients presenting with acute myelopathic syndrome, ischemic stroke of the spinal cord should be considered in the differential diagnosis alongside inflammatory and infectious conditions, particularly in children with significant risk factors. Early recognition of acute impairment of spinal cord circulation is particularly important for timely neuroimaging, consultations with related specialists, and initiating etiotropic or symptomatic treatment upon identification of the underlying cause of acute spinal cord ischemia, as well as early rehabilitation.

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About the authors

Alina M. Khodorovskaya

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Author for correspondence.
Email: alinamyh@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2772-6747
SPIN-code: 3348-8038

MD

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Olga E. Agranovich

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: olga_agranovich@yahoo.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6655-4108
SPIN-code: 4393-3694

MD, PhD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Margarita V. Savina

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: drevma@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8225-3885
SPIN-code: 5710-4790
Scopus Author ID: 57193277614

MD, PhD, Cand. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Ekaterina V. Petrova

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: pet_kitten@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1596-3358
SPIN-code: 2492-1260
Scopus Author ID: 57194563255

MD, PhD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Sergey F. Batkin

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Children’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: sergey-batkin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9992-8906
SPIN-code: 5173-9340

MD, PhD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Anna D. Dreval

Academician I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University

Email: anndreval@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-3985-634X
SPIN-code: 4175-6620
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Daniil B. Vcherashniy

Ioffe Physical Technical Institute

Email: dan-v@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1658-789X
SPIN-code: 6139-7842

PhD, Cand. Sci. (Physics and Mathematics)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spinal cord: a — sagittal projection; b — axial projection. Arrows indicate areas of spinal cord ischemia. Description in text.

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