Arteriovenous malformations of the spinal cord
Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal entanglements of blood vessels in or near the spinal cord. Left untreated, a spinal cord injury can permanently damage the spinal cord
Oxygen-rich blood enters the spinal cord through arteries, which then divide into smaller blood vessels (capillaries). The spinal cord uses oxygen from the arterial blood, and then this blood travels through the veins to the heart and lungs In a spinal cord injury, blood flows from the arteries directly into the veins, bypassing the capillaries
Disruption of blood circulation can cause spinal cord tissue damage or death Blood vessels in the spinal cord can burst and cause bleeding (hemorrhage). Sometimes a spinal cord tumor grows and pushes on the spinal cord
Spinal cord injury may go undiagnosed if you have no signs or symptoms Treatment involves surgery to stop or repair damage to the spinal cord
The exact cause is unknown Spinal cord injuries were once thought to be congenital, but scientists no longer believe this to be the case
Most people with an AVM have no noticeable symptoms
When symptoms occur, they depend on the severity and persistence of the tumor Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 20 and 30, although 20% of people with a spinal cord injury are under the age of 16. They are:
- difficulty walking or climbing stairs
- numbness, tingling or sudden pain in the legs
- weakness on one or both sides of the body
as the condition worsens, additional symptoms may appear:
