Anterior spinal artery stroke
Overview
An interruption to the blood supply in the anterior spinal artery which affects sensation, motor control and bowel control. The symptoms may improve to varying degrees once the blood supply returns to normal. The severity of the disorder depends on the exact location of the defect and how long it persists for.
Symptoms
- Sudden onset quadriplegia
- Respiratory paralysis
- Vertical nystagmus
- Bobbing eyes
- Cortical blindness
- Sensory loss
- Fecal incontinence
- Sensory loss
- Weakness
Causes
This condition is usually associated with Atherosclerosis of the aorta and may result from dissection of an Aortic aneurysm or rarely dissection of the anterior spinal artery.