Sulcal artery syndrome presenting as an incomplete Brown–Sequard syndrome – Report of an unusual case and review of the literature

Abstract

Sulcal arteries perfuse the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord, and spinal cord infarction as a result of sulcal artery occlusion is rare. Most reported cases are associated with vertebral artery dissection, and commonly involve the cervical spinal cord. A 74-year-old man presented with sudden onset weakness and numbness after a brief bout of abdominal pain. Further investigations concluded that this was sulcal artery syndrome. We report a case of sulcal artery syndrome affecting the thoracic spinal cord presenting as Brown–Sequard syndrome. Sulcal artery syndrome usually has good prognoses, unlike anterior spinal artery infarction.