A specific cause of the infarction should be looked for, such as diabetes, polyarteritis nodosa (inflammatory damage of vessels) or systemic lupus erythematosus.

[3] Posterior spinal artery syndrome is much rarer than its anterior counterpart as the white matter structures that are present are much less vulnerable to ischemia since they have a better blood supply.

Clinically the syndrome presents as a loss of tendon reflexes and loss of joint position sense[3] Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) rarely affect the spinal cord and usually affect the brain; however, cases have been documented in these areas.

Arteries that directly communicate with veins bypass the capillary network (which has not yet developed) and thus creates a shunt.

In diseases such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, signs and symptoms include headache, neck stiffness and back and leg pain.

If the myelogram is positive, angiography is required to show the extent of malformation and the exact site of the shunt.

If AVMs are left untreated, 50% of patients with gradual symptoms will be unable to walk within 3 years of onset.