Cocaine-induced spinal cord infarction

Jumma, Odai; Koulaouzidis, Anastasios; Ferguson, I T

doi:10.1136/pgmj.2007.062224

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Cocaine abuse is well known to be associated with cerebrovascular events, but a few cases of cocaine-induced acute spinal cord ischemia (ASCIS) have also been described [ 3 – 8 ]. All involved young adults (age range 19–37 years), and in all of them the lesion was mainly located in the ASA territory of the cervical spinal cord (between C2 and T2) [ 4 – 6 , 8 ], except one case [ 7 ] involving T1–T4 levels and one case with involvement of the posterior spinal artery at cervical level (C2) [ 3 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cocaine is one of the most abused illicit drug, especially among young adults between the second and fourth decade of life, and is responsible for many neurologic complications. These are typically related to the vascular effects at intracranial level [ 2 ], nonetheless few cases may result in acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome (ASCIS) [ 3 – 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cocaine-related cervical spinal cord infarction: a case report and review of the literature

et al. 2022

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Study design Case report. Objectives To report a clinical case of spinal cord infarction due to cocaine use. Setting Spinal Center, IRCCS Fondazione S. Lucia, Rome (Italy). Case presentation Two days after recreational use of cocaine, a 27-year-old Caucasic man was admitted to the emergency department for acute cervical pain, weakness in all four limbs, and urinary retention. A cervical spinal magnetic resonance imaging scan, performed after 2 days, showed a “pencil-like” lesion extending from C4 to T1 metamer, compatible with acute ischemia in the anterior spinal artery territory. Other causes of vascular disorders, as well as inflammatory and infectious disorders were ruled out. At admission in our department, the patient had an incomplete tetraplegia at level C6, an indwelling catheter, and was unable to stand and walk. After 3 months of rehabilitation, he had an AIS score D tetraplegia at level C7, was able to stand and walk using parallel bars, and indwelling catheter was replaced by intermittent catheterization. Discussion and conclusions The etiology of medullary infarction may remain unexplained in nearly 30–40% of cases. Even if rare, cocaine-induced ischemic myelopathy should be considered and ruled out in the differential diagnosis of any acute nontraumatic myelopathy, especially in young patients.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cocaine-related cervical spinal cord infarction: a case report and review of the literature

et al. 2022

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“…A rare CNS complication with high morbidity is acute spinal cord infarction (SCI) [1,2]. More common etiology for SCI includes a disease involving the aorta [3]; however other less common causes include systemic hypoperfusion, embolism from a cardiac origin, vasculitis, infection, hematology disorders, and cocaine use [4][5][6]. Qi et al described the significant impact on quality of life due to bowel dysfunction secondary to a spinal cord injury, which is preceded only by the loss of motor function [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in a Case of Cocaine-Induced Spinal Cord Infarction

Nieto¹,

Narvaez²,

Asthana³

et al. 2022

Cureus

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A 23-year-old male presented to the hospital with altered mental status (AMS) and hypoglycemia requiring admission to the ICU. He had improvement in AMS after administration of dextrose 50% and naloxone and endorsed the use of alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana that morning. It was confirmed with a positive urine toxicology screen for cocaine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). During this hospital admission, his physical examination was notable for paraplegia with no motor abilities from the T6 dermatome and below. Sensation was intact throughout all dermatomes but he was found to have urinary retention. Workup included an abnormal MRI showing T2 signal spanning from T2-T8, raising a high suspicion of a probable acute ischemic spinal cord infarction. Several hours after admission, the patient began to exhibit the first signs of abnormal bowel function and experienced one episode of hematemesis, prolonging his ICU stay.

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