[Spinal fibrocartilaginous embolism].

Abstract

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) of the spinal cord is a rare cause of ischemic myelopathy. We describe a 13-year-old patient with probable post-traumatic FCE. History of disease, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and disease course are outlined. Diagnosing FCE in the living often seems to be merely conjectural. Therefore, vertebral edema adjacent to the level of the spinal lesion is a possibly valuable diagnostic hint of spinal ischemia. Furthermore, exclusion of systemic embolism and other etiologies of myelopathy is necessary to corroborate the diagnosis of FCE. The postulated pathomechanism, diagnostic procedures, therapy, and prognosis of FCE are discussed in this article.

• Authors: M Furtner, S Felber, W Poewe
• Journal: Der Nervenarzt (Nervenarzt) Vol. 76 Issue 10 Pg. 1246-9 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0028-2804 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Fibrokartilaginäre Embolie des Rückenmarks.
• PMID: 15717108 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Embolism (diagnosis, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Spinal Cord Diseases (diagnosis, etiology)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (complications, diagnosis)
• Spinal Cord Ischemia (diagnosis, etiology)