Abstract
A literature search found 15 cases of simultaneous spinal cord and vertebral body infarction. The authors report what might be the first case of lumbar radiculopathy with lumbar vertebral body infarction.
In 2002, a 64-year-old woman complained of sudden numbness, weakness of the right leg, and lumbago. Her objective findings showed radiculopathy of the right L5 level. The straight leg raising test was negative. T2 weighted MRI of the lumbar region showed increased signal in the right L5 root, and a geometric lesion on the right parasagittal and axial images. Bone scan showed a partial cold spot in the right side of L5. Computer tomography showed a slight sclerotic change in the right side of L5 6 weeks later.
Her leg weakness and lumbago had improved at 6 months after examination and the follow-up MRI showed restoration of the vertebra.
We speculated the 5 th lumbar artery supplied blood to L5 without anastomosis in this case, and the embolization of that artery caused the lumbar infarction.
