Ventral cord syndrome
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Article Attributes
Anterior cord syndrome (also known as Beck's syndrome or anterior spinal artery syndrome) is a clinical subset of spinal cord injury syndromes, due to involvement of anterior two third of spinal cord and typically sparing posterior part.
Pathology
Anterior cord syndrome is caused by ischemic injury to the anterior aspect of spinal cord due to occlusion of anterior spinal artery, which is most commonly occur as a consequence of non traumatic process, although it can be traumatic. The anterior two third of spinal cord contains corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts which are affected in this syndrome. Causes of anterior spinal artery occlusion include:
- atherosclerosis
- aortic pathology
- aortic aneurysm
- aortic thrombosis
- aortic dissection
- aortic surgery / intervention
- external compression due to:
- herniated disc
- neoplastic mass
- posterior osteophyte
- kyphoscoliosis
- trauma: direct stab injuris
Clinical presentation
Patient present with following features:
- complete motor paralysis below the level of the lesion due to involvement of corticospinal tract.
- loss of pain and temperature at and below the level of injury due to involvement of lateral spinothalamic tract
- intact 2-point discrimination, proprioception and vibratory senses due to intact posterior column.
- autonomic dysfunction: orthostatic hypotension
- bladder and bowel dysfunction and sexual dysfunction may arise depending on the level of the lesion
Treatment and prognosis
Prognosis of anterior cord syndrome is worst among all other spinal cord injury syndromes. It is associated with high mortality and poor functional outcome in terms of poor recovery of motor power and co-ordination.
Treatment is focused on treating the primary cause of anterior spinal artery insufficiency and general supportive treatment and care.
EtymologyHistory and etymology
AnteriorThe anterior cord syndrome wasis thought to have been initially described by Schneider in 1955 on English literature (ref required)although there reports of this being described by 1955K Beck in German literature in 19524.
-<p><strong>Anterior cord syndrome</strong> (also known as Beck's syndrome or anterior spinal artery syndrome) is a clinical subset of spinal cord injury syndromes, due to involvement of anterior two third of spinal cord and typically sparing posterior part.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Anterior cord syndrome is caused by ischemic injury to the anterior aspect of spinal cord due to occlusion of <a href="/articles/anterior-spinal-artery">anterior spinal artery</a>, which is most commonly occur as a consequence of non traumatic process, although it can be traumatic. The anterior two third of spinal cord contains <a href="/articles/corticospinal">corticospinal</a> and <a href="/articles/spinothalamic-tracts">spinothalamic tracts</a> which are affected in this syndrome. Causes of anterior spinal artery occlusion include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Anterior cord syndrome</strong> (also known as <strong>Beck's syndrome</strong> or <strong>anterior spinal artery syndrome)</strong> is a clinical subset of <a title="Spinal cord injury" href="/articles/spinal-cord-injury">spinal cord injury</a> syndromes, due to involvement of anterior two third of spinal cord and typically sparing posterior part.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Anterior cord syndrome is caused by ischemic injury to the anterior aspect of spinal cord due to occlusion of <a href="/articles/anterior-spinal-artery">anterior spinal artery</a>, which is most commonly occur as a consequence of non traumatic process, although it can be traumatic. The anterior two third of spinal cord contains <a href="/articles/corticospinal">corticospinal</a> and <a href="/articles/spinothalamic-tracts">spinothalamic tracts</a> which are affected in this syndrome. Causes of anterior spinal artery occlusion include:</p><ul>
-<li><a title="Thoracic aortic aneurysm" href="/articles/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm">aortic aneurysm</a></li>-<li><a title="aortic th" href="/articles/aortic-th">aortic thrombosis</a></li>-<li><a title="Aortic dissection" href="/articles/aortic-dissection">aortic dissection</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm">aortic aneurysm</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/aortic-th">aortic thrombosis</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/aortic-dissection">aortic dissection</a></li>
-</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Prognosis of anterior cord syndrome is worst among all other spinal cord injury syndromes. It is associated with high mortality and poor functional outcome in terms of poor recovery of motor power and co-ordination.</p><p>Treatment is focused on treating the primary cause of <a href="/articles/anterior-spinal-artery">anterior spinal artery</a> insufficiency and general supportive treatment and care.</p><h4>Etymology</h4><p>Anterior cord syndrome was described by <strong>Schneider</strong> in <strong>1955</strong>.</p>- +</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Prognosis of anterior cord syndrome is worst among all other spinal cord injury syndromes. It is associated with high mortality and poor functional outcome in terms of poor recovery of motor power and co-ordination.</p><p>Treatment is focused on treating the primary cause of <a href="/articles/anterior-spinal-artery">anterior spinal artery</a> insufficiency and general supportive treatment and care.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>The anterior cord syndrome is thought to have been initially described <strong>Schneider</strong> in 1955 on English literature <sup>(ref required)</sup>although there reports of this being described by <strong>K Beck </strong>in German literature in 1952<sup>4</sup>.</p>