Spinal dural fistulas are abnormal connections between arteries supplying the spinal cord and nerve roots and the veins draining the spinal cord and dural structures.

These lesions can cause severe spinal cord injury, or myelopathy, as a result of venous congestion, vascular steal, or hemorrhage.

Diagnosis

We evaluate all patients with spinal dural fistulas using a sophisticated spinal digital subtraction angiogram, in which each of the vessels supplying the spinal cord is selectively catheterized and imaged.

Treatment

There are different kinds of spinal arteriovenous malformations, and our physicians and surgeons are skilled at providing accurate treatments for each malformation.

We offer surgical solutions to block the feeding vessel at the point of the fistula, trans-arterial and trans-venous embolization as described above, and treatment focused on relieving pain.

Appointments

For information about scheduling an appointment with a specific doctor, visit the Contact Us page.