Spinal Cavernoma -
How the Spinal Cord Works and What Can Change After Injury
A spinal (spine) cavernoma - Is a vascular malformation (abnormal cluster of blood vessels) that develops within the spinal cord. When it bleeds/leaks or grows, it can injure the spinal cord (an acquired spinal injury) and interrupt the messages that normally travel between your brain and the rest of your body.
The spinal cord is believed to be the rarest location for a cavernoma to develop.
5% of cavernomas our found in the spinal cord.
To understand how a cavernoma can affect you, it helps to know what each part of the spinal cord normally does, and what can change after an acquired spinal injury.
MRI of Spinal cord Cavernoma
The Spinal Cord: What It Normally Does
The spinal cord is the main pathway that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It helps control movement, allows you to feel sensations like touch and temperature, supports reflex actions, and plays a role in automatic body functions such as bladder and bowel control.
It is organised into different segments, each sending out spinal nerves that connect to specific parts of the body.
Cervical Spine (Neck Region - C1-C8)
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Controls movement and sensation in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers
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Controls the diaphragm, which is critical for breathing
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Helps regulate posture and head movement
Thoracic Spine (Upper/Mid Back - T1-T12)
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Controls the chest muscles, back posture and upper abdominal muscles
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Supports trunk stability and balance
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Helps relay nerve signals to and from the torso and parts of the lower body
Lumbar Spine (Lower Back - L1-L5)
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Helps control muscles for hip movement and leg strength
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Supports walking, standing and balance
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Relays sensation from the lower body and feet
Sacral Spine (Sacrum - Pelvis Area - S1-S5)
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Controls signals that affect the legs, feet and pelvic organs
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Helps regulate bowel, bladder and sexual function
Coccygeal Spine (Tailbone Region)
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Supports body weight while sitting
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Provides attachment for pelvic floor muscles and ligaments
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Contributes to pelvic stability and alignment
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Supplies sensation to a small area near the tailbone, with minimal motor function
What Might Be Affected After an Spinal Injury
When a spinal cavernoma bleeds/leaks, or presses on spinal cord tissue, it interrupts the normal signalling between the brain and body. The result depends on where along the spinal cord the cavernoma is located, and how severe the injury is.
Cervical Spine (Neck Region - C1-C8)
Damage here can affect:
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Arm and hand movement and strength
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Fine motor control
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Sensation in the upper body
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Breathing or cough strength (especially with high-level injuries)
Lumbar Spine (Lower Back - L1-L5)
Damage here can affect:
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Leg strength and coordination
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Walking ability and balance
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Sensation in the lower limbs
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Bladder and bowel function (depending on nerve involvement)
Coccygeal Spine (Tailbone Region)
Damage here can affect:
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Pain or tenderness at the tailbone
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Sitting comfort and posture
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Minor lower pelvic sensations
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Function of muscles attached to the coccyx (rarely affects major movement)
Thoracic Spine (Upper/Mid Back - T1-T12)
Damage here can affect:
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Trunk stability and posture
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Core balance and coordination
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Sensation in the chest and torso
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Some loss of lower body muscle control (depending on level)
Sacral Spine (Pelvis Area - S1-S5)
Damage here can affect:
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Lower limb sensation and strength
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Bowel and bladder control
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Sexual function
Information booklet;
https://cavernoma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cavernoma-Spinal-booklet.pdf
Information on Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation website page;
https://www.alliancetocure.org/cavernous-angioma-in-depth/symptoms/spinal-lesions/