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  Spinal Cord Infarction 
  
Reviewed  01-28-2003  

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What is a Spinal Cord Infarction?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?

Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information

What is a Spinal Cord Infarction?
Spinal cord infarction is a stroke either within the spinal cord or the arteries that supply it. It is caused by arteriosclerosis or a thickening or closing of the major arteries to the spinal cord. Frequently spinal cord infarction is caused by a specific form of arteriosclerosis called atheromatosis, in which a deposit or accumulation of lipid-containing matter forms within the arteries. Symptoms, which generally appear within minutes or a few hours of the infarction, may include intermittent sharp or burning back pain, aching pain down through the legs, weakness in the legs, paralysis, loss of deep tendon reflexes, loss of pain and temperature sensation, and incontinence.

Is there any treatment?
Treatment is symptomatic. Physical and occupational therapy may help individuals recover from weakness or paralysis. A catheter may be necessary for patients with urinary incontinence.

What is the prognosis?
Recovery depends upon how quickly treatment is received and how severely the body is compromised. Paralysis may persist for many weeks or be permanent. Most individuals have a good chance of recovery.

What research is being done?
NINDS conducts and supports research on disorders of the spinal cord such as spinal cord infarction, aimed at learning more about these disorders and finding ways to prevent and treat them.

Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

 Organizations

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation/ Paralysis Resource Center
500 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
info@crpf.org; research@crpf.org
http://www.christopherreeve.org
Tel: 973-379-2690 800-225-0292
Fax: 973-912-9433

National Spinal Cord Injury Association
6701 Democracy Blvd.
#300-9
Bethesda, MD 20817
NSCIA2@aol.com
http://www.spinalcord.org
Tel: 301-588-6959 800-962-9629
Fax: 301-588-9414

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
801 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-3517
info@pva.org
http://www.pva.org
Tel: 202-USA-1300 (872-1300) 800-424-8200
Fax: 202-785-4452

Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation
16415 Addison Road
Suite 550
Addison, TX 75001
kwaldrep@spinalvictory.org
http://www.spinalvictory.org
Tel: 972-248-7100 877-SCI-CURE (925-2873)
Fax: 972-248-7313

Related NINDS Publications and Information

Spinal Cord Injury 
Spinal cord injury information sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

  • Spinal Cord Injury: Emerging Concepts
    Report of a 1996 workshop on spinal cord injury research and treatments.

  • Functional and Dysfunctional Spinal Circuitry: Role for Rehabilitation and Neural Prostheses
    Summary of NINDS "New Strategies in Spinal Cord Injury," workshop held June, 2000.

  • NINDS Workshop on Re-establishing Connectivity in the Damaged Spinal Cord
    Summary of NINDS Workshop on Re-establishing Connectivity in the Damaged Spinal Cord held January 18-19, 2001


    NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.

    All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.


    Provided by:
    The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    National Institutes of Health
    Bethesda, MD 20892




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