Spinal Cord Infarction

　　There are many causes of spinal cord infarction or ischemic lesions, generally including the following several types:
　　1. Diseases of the cardiovascular system and the spinal cord blood vessels themselves, such as atherosclerosis of the aorta and spinal cord arteries, arteritis, phlebitis, thrombosis or embolism, aortic dissection aneurysm, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, etc.
　　2. Lesions causing compression of the blood vessels supplying the spinal cord, such as intervertebral disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, intraspinal tumors, extraspinal tumors, tuberculosis, epidural inflammation infiltration, adhesive arachnoiditis, etc., can all cause compression and occlusion of the spinal cord vessels.
　　3. Iatrogenic injury to the spinal cord blood supply arteries, such as injury from surgery or angiography.

　　The common complications of this disease include:
　　1. It is more common in the middle thoracic and lower cervical segments of the spinal cord, with paralysis below the level of the lesion appearing within a short period of time and progressively worsening, usually incomplete paralysis, affecting both sides, occasionally unilateral, and early manifestations may include spinal cord shock.
　　2. Urinary and fecal disorders may appear early, with urinary retention in the early stage and urinary incontinence in the later stage.
　　3. There may be symptoms of autonomic nervous system, such as decubitus ulcers, abnormal sweating, and cold and hot sensations.

　　The initial symptoms of this disease often include sudden onset of radicular pain or diffused pain at the corresponding level of the lesion, followed by delayed paralysis within a short period of time. After the spinal cord shock period, it transforms into spastic paralysis; conduction tract-type dissociative sensory disturbance, loss of pain and temperature sensation while deep sensation is preserved (the posterior column is not involved), and more obvious urinary and fecal disorders; posterior spinal artery syndrome, the posterior spinal artery is rarely occluded, and even if it occurs, due to good collateral circulation, the symptoms are relatively mild and recovery is relatively fast; presenting with acute radicular pain, loss of deep sensation and sensory ataxia below the level of the lesion, preservation of pain and temperature sensation and muscle strength, and usually no influence on sphincter function; central artery syndrome, lower motor neuron paralysis, hypotonia, muscle atrophy at the corresponding level of the lesion, with few sensory disorders and pyramidal tract damage.

　　This disease is mostly caused by stenosis or occlusion of the anterior spinal artery and its related blood vessels, and also occurs due to infection, spinal cord trauma, tumor compression, arteriosclerosis, vascular malformation, and other reasons. Therefore, preventing infection, avoiding spinal cord trauma, treating tumors to reduce pressure on the spinal cord, and diagnosing and treating malformations of blood vessels are all very important preventive measures.

　　The relevant examinations for spinal cord infarction include:
　　1. CT:It can clearly observe the internal structure changes of the spinal cord and the compression of other tissues on the spinal cord.
　　2. MRI:The diagnosis of spinal cord hemorrhage is sensitive and accurate, and the observation of the lesion is more sensitive.
　　3. Spinal Artery Angiography:If there is suspected vascular injury and the routine method has not been able to find the problem, spinal artery angiography can be performed

　　Patients should follow the doctor's advice on diet and start with thin and soft food, and gradually increase other foods as the body adapts; it is important not to consume too much oil, and to reasonably match sugar, fat, protein, minerals, vitamins, and other foods; it is not advisable to consume foods and foods with strong irritants that are harmful to the condition, such as chili; especially for patients in the acute stage and patients with yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity, it is best to avoid such foods.
　　

　　The treatment of spinal cord infarction similar to cerebral infarction is mainly comprehensive treatment: drugs that improve blood circulation can be used to increase blood supply to ischemic areas, diuretics can be used to eliminate spinal cord edema, and other neurotrophic drugs can be used for protective treatment. At the same time, Chinese medicine acupuncture, rehabilitation training, and other auxiliary treatments can be used. Pay attention to daily care work to avoid complications such as bedsores and urinary tract infections.