Spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) refers to a group of conditions where there is a tangle of blood vessels in, on or around the spinal cord. The blood vessels didn’t form correctly, and there aren’t capillaries to transfer oxygen from the blood to the spine. Instead, blood flows from arteries directly to veins to resume its trip back to the heart.

This interruption of the normal blood flow robs the spinal cord of oxygen, leading cells to break down and die.

The knot of blood vessels also can press on the spinal cord, leading to disability, pain or other issues. An AVM rupture is a serious condition, as blood hemorrhages into the confined space of the spinal column. The blood can seep into nearby areas of the body and push on the spinal cord, causing damage.

An AVM can be anywhere in the body. Spinal AVMs often have no symptoms and are found while diagnosing or treating another condition.

The combined team of orthopedic spine and neuroscience specialists at Norton Leatherman spine has long experience treating spinal AVMs. Our physicians have the expertise and technology to diagnose and precisely identify the location of an AVM. You’ll get a customized plan of action for addressing your condition.

Spinal AVM Symptoms

If there are symptoms at all, they can be different from person to person and can depend on the severity and location of the tangle. Sometimes symptoms appear when the patient is in their 20s, although occasionally symptoms can appear in younger people.

Symptoms can appear suddenly or gradually and tend to worsen as the condition progresses. Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty walking and climbing stairs
• Numbness, tingling or pain in the legs
• Sudden severe back pain
• Weakness on one or both sides of the body
• Loss of bowel or bladder control

Treatment

Your specialist physician may perform a spinal angiogram, MRI, CT or other scan to show what the blood vessels look like and where the spinal vascular malformation is.

Depending on your condition, physicians have a range of treatments for a spinal AVM. They include:

• Surgical removal is recommended in some cases.
• Endovascular embolization closes the faulty blood vessels with a gluelike substance or other material. The procedure involves inserting a catheter into a blood vessel and threading it through your circulatory system until it reaches the AVM to seal it off.
• Radiation therapy uses energy to seal off the abnormal vessels.
• Medication is available for symptoms such as back pain.

Spine Care From World-renowned Specialists

Norton Leatherman Spine is a world-renowned program delivering groundbreaking care and treatment for back, neck and spine conditions and procedures.

• Nationally recognized spine surgery fellowship program with over 150 trained fellows
• First in the world to perform robotic spine surgery using the Medtronic Mazor X Stealth Edition, demonstrating leadership in surgical innovations
• First health system in the nation to be recognized as an Advanced Orthopedic & Spine Center of Excellence by DNV
• First in the state of Kentucky to use the EOS Imaging system, a high-resolution image system with 50% to 85% less radiation exposure than traditional X-rays and CT scans
• More than 4,000 surgeries performed each year
• Recognized as a national benchmark for patient-reported outcome measures against spine surgeons across the nation, ensuring high-quality, data-driven care
• A team of 45 highly regarded specialists, including orthopedic spine surgeons, neurosurgeons and pain management specialists
• Internationally recognized leaders in clinical research of spinal disease, injury and deformity, opioid management, spine surgical innovations, scoliosis and more
• Specialists who have served in senior positions in the Scoliosis Research Society, the prestigious organization for scoliosis surgeons around the world
• Kenton D. Leatherman, M.D., the program namesake, was the first doctor in Kentucky to repair scoliosis surgically