| Download the amazing global Makindo app: ✅ Means NICE/National Guidelines 2026 compliant Android | Apple | |
|---|---|
| MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Educational use only. Not for diagnosis or management. See below for full disclaimer. |
Spinal Cord Arteriovenous Malformations
Related Subjects: |Neurological History taking |Motor Neuron Disease (MND-ALS) |Miller-Fisher syndrome |Guillain Barre Syndrome |Multifocal Motor Neuropathy with Conduction block |Inclusion Body Myositis |Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Demyelination |Transverse myelitis |Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis |Cervical spondylosis |Spinal Cord Anatomy |Acute Disc Prolapse |Spinal Cord Compression |Spinal Cord Haematoma |Foix-Alajouanine syndrome |Cauda Equina |Conus Medullaris syndrome |Anterior Spinal Cord syndrome |Central Spinal Cord syndrome |Brown-Sequard Spinal Cord syndrome |Vitamin B12 deficiency |Myelopathy |Spinal Cord Arteriovenous Malformations
🧠 Foix-Alajouanine syndrome is a severe form of spinal dural AV fistula (AVF). It occurs in a minority of patients and presents with rapidly progressive myelopathy due to venous thrombosis from spinal venous stasis. ⚡
ℹ️ About
- Spinal AVMs (arteriovenous malformations) can cause acute, subacute, or chronic myelopathy.
- They often resemble AV fistulas, where high-pressure arterial blood enters the venous system, causing venous hypertension → spinal cord ischaemia and dysfunction.
⚠️ Aetiology & Classification
- Type 1: Dural AVMs (≈85%)
- Most common form, usually in middle-aged men 👨.
- Venous hypertension → expansion of lesion → spinal cord compression.
- Affects corticospinal and posterior columns.
- Management: Spinal angiography & obliteration of fistula.
- Type 2: Intradural AVMs (Glomus AVMs)
- Arterial-pressure bleeding into subarachnoid space → myelopathy.
- Seen in younger patients 👩🦱; fluctuating course with acute deterioration from haemorrhage.
- Type 3: Juvenile AVMs
- Large, high-flow AVMs, sometimes with an audible bruit 🔊.
- Clinical features resemble Type 2 but more extensive.
- Type 4: Perimedullary AV Fistulas
- Rare; complex venous hypertension pattern.
🩺 Clinical Features
- Painful radiculopathy, especially in Type 1.
- Symptoms of spinal cord compression: gradual weakness, sensory loss.
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction 🚽 in advanced disease.
- Sudden haemorrhage → severe back pain + abrupt weakness.
- Intradural lesions may cause subarachnoid haemorrhage with excruciating back pain (“coup de poignard” - dagger-like pain) 🗡️.
🔬 Investigations
- MRI/MRA: First-line to identify AVMs and cord changes.
- Spinal arteriography: Gold standard for diagnosis and treatment planning 🎯.
💊 Management
- Endovascular therapy (interventional neuroradiology): Embolization of fistula or nidus using occlusive agents.
- Surgical removal: Considered for accessible lesions.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery: Causes gradual occlusion by scarring the AVM with focused radiation.
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
|
|
Categories
- A Level
- About
- Acute Medicine
- Anaesthetics and Critical Care
- Anatomy
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Book
- Cardiology
- Collections
- CompSci
- Crib Sheets
- Dental
- Dermatology
- Differentials
- Drugs
- ENT
- Education
- Electrocardiogram
- Embryology
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Ethics
- Foundation Doctors
- GCSE
- Gastroenterology
- General Practice
- Genetics
- Geriatric Medicine
- Guidelines
- Gynaecology
- Haematology
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infographic
- Investigations
- Lists
- MRCP
- Mandatory Training
- Medical Students
- Microbiology
- Nephrology
- Neu
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Nutrition
- OSCE
- OSCEs
- Obstetrics
- Obstetrics Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Oral Medicine and Dentistry
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Palliative
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Procedures
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Resuscitation
- Revision
- Rheumatology
- Statistics and Research
- Stroke
- Surgery
- Toxicology
- Trauma and Orthopaedics
- USMLE
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery