Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 25, 2025 10 hours, 54 minutes ago
Medical News: Rare but Serious Complications Emerging
While COVID-19 is widely known for attacking the lungs and causing respiratory problems, doctors are now uncovering another alarming impact of the virus—damage to the spinal cord. A new systematic review led by international researchers from Hurley Medical Center-USA, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-USA, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences-Iran, University of Kentucky College of Medicine-USA, Lady Hardinge Medical College-India, Tulane University-USA, University of California San Diego-USA, and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences-Iran has found that COVID-19 can trigger both spinal ischemia (spinal cord strokes due to lack of blood flow) and spinal hemorrhage (bleeding in or around the spinal cord). This
Medical News report highlights the seriousness of these findings and why medical vigilance is essential.
COVID-19 Found to Cause Spinal Ischemia and Spinal Hemorrhage
Understanding Spinal Ischemia and Hemorrhage
Spinal ischemia occurs when blood flow to the spinal cord is reduced or blocked. This cuts off oxygen and nutrients, leading to sudden weakness, paralysis, numbness, and even loss of bladder or bowel control. Spinal hemorrhage, on the other hand, happens when bleeding occurs within or around the spinal cord. It can be caused by trauma, abnormal blood vessels, or clotting problems and often begins with sudden severe back or neck pain followed by weakness and sensory loss. Both conditions are rare but extremely dangerous, requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment.
How COVID-19 Triggers These Events
The researchers reviewed medical data from patients worldwide and found a clear association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and spinal strokes. In cases of spinal ischemia, many patients had severe COVID-19 pneumonia, and nearly three out of four showed clotting abnormalities. This suggests that the virus increases the risk of abnormal blood clot formation, cutting off spinal blood supply. For hemorrhagic cases, MRI scans most often revealed epidural and intramedullary hematomas, particularly in the cervical and thoracic regions of the spine. Interestingly, bleeding in these cases did not appear to be linked to blood clotting disorders, suggesting that other inflammatory or vascular mechanisms may be responsible.
Patterns Seen in Imaging and Symptoms
The study reported that the anterior spinal artery and central watershed regions were the most common sites of spinal ischemia linked to COVID-19. Patients typically presented with sudden sensory deficits, paralysis, or severe weakness. In hemorrhagic cases, patients often came in with acute pain followed by neurological decline. The severity of impairment was measured using the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) scale, with ischemic cases often showing more severe disability compared to hemorrhagic cases.
Treatment Approaches and Outcomes
For spinal ischemia, most patients were managed conservatively, meaning with medication and supportive care, but unfortunately, outcomes were
generally poor with lasting disability. In contrast, some patients with spinal hemorrhage underwent surgery such as laminectomy to relieve pressure, while others were treated with non-surgical management. Recovery in hemorrhagic cases showed more promising results compared to ischemia, suggesting that timely surgical intervention can improve outcomes.
Why This Matters for Patients and Doctors
Although spinal ischemia and hemorrhage are rare complications, the fact that COVID-19 can trigger them highlights the unpredictable and multi-systemic nature of the virus. Doctors are urged to remain vigilant when patients recovering from COVID-19 present with sudden neurological symptoms such as paralysis, loss of sensation, or severe back pain. Early use of MRI scans and rapid intervention can help prevent permanent damage. The review also underlines the need for further research into how exactly the virus triggers these conditions and whether preventive strategies could help at-risk patients.
Conclusion
This systematic review shows that COVID-19 does not just threaten the lungs or brain but can also strike the spinal cord in devastating ways. By causing both clotting-related ischemia and bleeding-related hemorrhage, the virus adds new dimensions to its already complex impact on human health. Doctors and patients alike must recognize that any sudden spinal symptoms after COVID-19 require urgent attention. Long-term disability and loss of quality of life can only be reduced with early recognition, imaging, and, where necessary, surgical treatment. As the medical community continues to study these rare but severe complications, greater awareness will be the first step in saving lives and preventing lasting harm.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0967586825006125
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/doctors-warn-covid-19-can-trigger-dangerous-spine-infections-resembling-tuberculosis
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-japanese-doctors-warn-of-cerebrospinal-fluid-leakage-linked-to-covid-19-in-children
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-study-finds-that-covid-19-causes-deadly-protein-shifts-in-cerebrospinal-fluid
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