Vascular Spinal Cord Disorders

Vascular disorders of the spinal cord are uncommon yet under-recognized causes of myelopathy. Etiologies can be predominantly categorized into clinical and radiographic presentations of arterial ischemia, venous congestion/ischemia, hematomyelia, and extraparenchymal hemorrhage. While vascular myelopathies often produce significant morbidity, recent advances in the understanding and recognition of these disorders should continue to expedite diagnosis and proper management, and ideally improve patient outcomes. This article comprehensively reviews relevant spinal cord vascular anatomy, clinical features, radiographic findings, treatment, and prognosis of vascular disorders of the spinal cord.

Automated summary

Vascular disorders of the spinal cord, including arterial ischemia, venous congestion/ischemia, hematomyelia, and extraparenchymal hemorrhage, are uncommon but can lead to significant morbidity. Recent advances in understanding and recognition of these disorders have improved diagnosis and management, potentially enhancing patient outcomes.