Clinical Presentation
- Complete motor paralysis below the level of the lesion due to interruption of the corticospinal tract
- Loss of pain and temperature sensation at and below the level of the lesion due to interruption of the spinothalamic tract
- Retained proprioception and vibratory sensation due to intact dorsal columns
- Areflexia, flaccid anal sphincter, urinary retention and intestinal obstruction may also be present in individuals with anterior cord syndrome.
Symptoms usually occur very quickly and are often experienced within one hour of the initial damage. MRI can detect the magnitude and location of the damage 10–15 hours after the initiation of symptoms. Diffusion-weighted imaging may be used as it is able to identify the damage within a few minutes of symptomatic onset.
Read more about this topic: Anterior Cord Syndrome
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