These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Myelopathy associated with fibrocartilaginous emboli (FE): review and two suspected cases.
    Author: McLean JM, Palagallo GL, Henderson JP, Kimm JA.
    Journal: Surg Neurol; 1995 Sep; 44(3):228-34; discussion 234-5. PubMed ID: 8545773.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Myelopathy secondary to fibrocartilaginous emboli is rarely reported and has been documented antemortem only once. The pathophysiology of fibrocartilaginous emboli lacks consensus, although the role of trauma has been previously entertained. METHODS: We reviewed the reported cases of myelopathy secondary to fibrocartilaginous emboli. We extensively evaluated two cases of myelopathy in otherwise healthy individuals using myelography and serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Evaluation for underlying systemic disease was conducted in both cases. RESULTS: No evidence of infectious, autoimmune, inflammatory, or neoplastic disease was found in either patient. Furthermore, no other lesions were found in the neuroaxis. Findings on serial MRIs were consistent with vascular lesions thought to be venous strokes. CONCLUSIONS: We report two cases of acute myelopathies associated with heavy lifting, in otherwise healthy young men. Serial MRI studies in each case demonstrated lesions consistent with venous infarcts. We postulate that migration of disc material into the perivertebral venous system was the result of increased intervertebral disc pressure and simultaneous excessive Valsalva associated with heavy lifting. We further postulate that this may be a more prevalent cause of acute myelopathy than previously recognized.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]