Ruptured aneurysm of the artery of Adamkiewicz as a rare cause of spinal cord injury

Andrew Hiett; Zachary Gaughan; Keith Polston; Megan Clark

doi:10.1136/bcr-2022-250840

Ruptured aneurysm of the artery of Adamkiewicz as a rare cause of spinal cord injury

BMJ Case Rep. 2022 Aug 25;15(8):e250840. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250840.

Authors

Andrew Hiett¹, Zachary Gaughan², Keith Polston³, Megan Clark³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA [email protected].
² Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

Abstract

This case report describes a patient who presented with low back pain, headache and urinary retention. He developed altered mental status with right lower extremity hemiparesis. He was subsequently found to have subarachnoid haemorrhage and was ultimately diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm of the artery of Adamkiewicz. At 11-week follow-up, he had made a significant recovery and was functioning at a modified independent level. This case report explores previous cases of ruptured artery of Adamkiewicz aneurysms as a rare cause of spinal cord injury, and discusses management and recovery for these injuries.

Keywords: Disability; Physiotherapy (rehabilitation); Spinal cord.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aneurysm, Ruptured* / complications
Aneurysm, Ruptured* / diagnosis
Arteries
Humans
Male
Spinal Cord / blood supply
Spinal Cord Injuries* / complications
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / diagnosis
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / etiology