Manuscript submission / Evaluation
Click here to download Turk J Phys Med Rehab's ENDNOTE Style File
Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2020 , Vol 66 , Num 2
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: A rare cause of progressive myelopathy and bladder and bowel dysfunction
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Private Nisa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
3 Department of Radiology, Private Nisa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey DOI : 10.5606/tftrd.2020.3732 Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is a rarely seen vascular lesion in the spinal cord and is often overlooked. If left untreated in the early stages, it is associated with severe morbidity and may lead to progressive myelopathy and bladder and bowel dysfunction. A 55-year-old male patient was admitted with complaints of lower extremity weakness, gait disorder, urinary retention, and stool retention. Based on physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging findings, a preliminary diagnosis of SDAVF was made. The diagnosis was confirmed by spinal angiography showing SDAVF on the left T6. Microsurgery was planned, once endovascular embolization failed. Although symptoms of progressive myelopathy and bladder and bowel dysfunction are rarely seen, SDAVF diagnosis should not be overlooked, and it should be kept in mind that early diagnosis and treatment prevent severe morbidities. Keywords : Angiography, fistula, magnetic resonance imaging, myelopathy, rehabilitation, spinal cord