Complications

Untreated, spinal arteriovenous malformation can lead to progressive disability by damaging the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. Specific complications may include:

• Problems with moving (motor deficits)
• Pain, tingling and numbness (sensory deficits)
• Spinal column deformity
• Bulging blood vessel (aneurysm)
• High blood pressure in the veins (venous hypertension), which can cause fluid accumulation (edema) and tissue death due to lack of oxygen (spinal cord infarction)
• Hemorrhage, which can accelerate spinal cord damage