Nontraumatic spinal cord injury/disease: Etiologies and outcomes

Abstract

The pathogenesis of nontraumatic spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) includes vertebral spondylosis, cancerous and infectious-related compression, vascular ischemia, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory disease, motor neuron disease, radiation myelopathy, syringomyelia, paraneoplastic syndrome, and vitamin B12 deficiency. The incidence, demographics, clinical presentations, and outcomes for the nontraumatic SCI/D population have not been as thoroughly studied in persons with SCI as in persons with traumatic etiology. A better understanding of these issues will assist in the medical management, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up for these individuals. © 2008 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.