Paraplegia due to Acute Aortic Coarctation and Occlusion

• Published in: Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 156 - 159
• Main Authors: Park, Chang-Bum, Jo, Dae-Jean, Kim, Min-Ki, Kim, Sang-Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Neurosurgical Society 01.03.2014; 대한신경외과학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 신경외과학; Spinal cord ischemia; Aortic coarctation; Aortic occlusion; Paraplegia
• ISSN: 2005-3711; 1598-7876
• DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2014.55.3.156

Coarctation and occlusion of the aorta is a rare condition that typically presents with hypertension or cardiac failure. However, neuropathy or myelopathy may be the presenting features of the condition when an intraspinal subarachnoid hemorrhage has compressed the spinal cord causing ischemia. We report two cases of middle-aged males who developed acute non-traumatic paraplegia. Undiagnosed congenital abnormalities, such as aortic coarctation and occlusion, should be considered for patients presenting with nontraumatic paraplegia in the absence of other identifiable causes. Our cases suggest that spinal cord ischemia resulting from acute spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage and can cause paraplegia, and that clinicians must carefully examine patients presenting with nontraumatic paraplegia because misdiagnosis can delay initiation of the appropriate treatment.