J Electrodiagn Neuromuscul Dis.  2024 Dec;26(3):62-67. 10.18214/jend.2024.00045.

Spinal Cord Infarction Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Insights

• Min K
• Park MW
• Shin HI
• Lee BC
• Kim DH

• KMID: 2562929
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18214/jend.2024.00045

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with various neurological complications, including the rare occurrence of spinal cord infarction. In this report, we present the case of a 42-year-old man who developed sudden quadriplegia after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided inconclusive results; however, subsequent imaging revealed diffusion restriction and vertebral body signal changes, indicative of ischemic changes in the spinal cord. The patient received anticoagulation and corticosteroid therapy followed by rehabilitation, resulting in partial recovery of motor function. This case illustrates the importance of considering spinal cord infarction in patients with COVID-19 who present with neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it highlights the crucial role of MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging, in diagnosis.

Keyword

Spinal cord infarction; COVID-19; Diffusion-weighted imaging; Vertebral body infarction