Question

Present some causes related to posterior column deficits. Explain and give examples in your own words.

Answer 1

EXPLAINATION

The posterior spinal artery supplies the posterior coliumn pathway.Thus,an infraction in the posterior spinal artery results in the neurological sensory deficits which is related to the posterior column pathway.This condition occurs in the case of posterior cord syndrome,also known as posterior spinal artery syndrome.It results in the loss of vibration,proprioception sensation and the posterior spinal artery supplies reflexes below the level of the lession as the column pathway.However ,the pain and the temperature along with motor strength are spared in PCS,as the spinothalamic tract and cortical motor tract are not affected due to their blood supply by the anterior spinal artery.

CAUSES

Trauma in the spinal cord,such as neck hyperflexion injuries,are often caused by car accidents or sports related injuries.

Common pathological condition causes PCS include Friedreich's Axatia,an autosomal recessive inherited disease.

Astrocytoma,ependymoma,meningioma,neurofibroma,sarcoma and schwannoma are tumours which causes PCS

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency leads to PCS because it plays a vital role in the synthesis and maintenance of myelun in neurons found in the spinal cord which results in the demyelination

If there is an failure in treating Syphils ,it leads to the progressive degradation of the nerve roots and posterior columns.

The bacteria which causes Syphilis (Treponema pallidum) results in locomotor ataxia and tabes dorsalis

Tabes dorsalis causes complications which include optic nerve damage,blindness,shooting pains,urinary incontinence and degeneration of the joints.

EXAMPLE

An 22 years old male admitted in the hospital due to a car accident. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is done for him to identify the infractions on the dorsal column. Clinical history,blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) test is done and conclude that due to the sudden impact infraction occured in the dorsal region which results in the cause of PCS.

The infraction is observed in the posterior spinal artery which results in the interruption in the transmission of sensory information and motor commands from the brain to the periphery.