Anterior spinal artery syndrome and its natural history

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Abstract
The anterior spinal artery syndrome in three patients is described and from the literature 6o additional patients were collected. Motor recovery in the following groups of patients was noted: (1) Partial loss of motor function and pain sensation—70.4 per cent (19/27); (2) Complete motor loss but partial loss of pain—83.3 per cent (5/6); (3) Paresis but pain sensation absent—66.7 per cent (6/9); and (4) Absent motor function and pain—38.9 per cent (7/18). Motor recovery was also found to vary according to aetiology: (A) Unknown cause— 92.9 per cent (13/14); (B) Post-infection or vaccination—88.9 per cent (8/9); (C) Anterior spinal artery occlusion—33.3 per cent (3/9); (D) Spinal cord angioma—20 per cent (2/10); and (E) Aortic lesion—2o per cent (1/5). Patients with sparing of motor function or pain sensation below the lesion do better than those without both functions. Neurological return also varies with the aetiology of the syndrome.