Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome

Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome (Ventral Medullary Syndrome;
Myelomalacia Syndrome; Beck Syndrome; Medullary Syndrome)      

General: Impaired blood supply to the anterior two thirds of the spinal cord, which includes the corticospinal and lateral spinothalamic tracts and anterior horns of the gray matter; caused by thrombosis, aneurysms, or extramedullary tumors; onset is sudden, and symptoms are preceded by pain and paresthesias.

Ocular: Nystagmus.

Clinical: Quadriplegia (usually sudden with cervical lesions) with loss of sense of position; arms may be unimpaired with thoracic location of the lesion; anesthesia for determination of sensations; disturbed intestinal and bladder function with incontinence; disturbed sense for temperature and pain.

Geeraets WJ. Ocular syndromes, 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1976.

Magalini SI, Scrascia E. Dictionary of medical syndromes, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1981.

Steegmann AT. Syndrome of the anterior spinal artery. Neurology 1952; 2:15.
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