Sudden-onset paraplegia in a 72-year-old male with a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: illustrative case.

Background: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) are rare vascular malformations of the spine but account for up to 80% of all vascular malformations involving the spine. Few case reports of SDAVFs have been reported in the literature, and even fewer have been described with sudden onset of symptoms.

Observations: The authors described the case of a 72-year-old male with sudden-onset bilateral paraplegia and sensory loss with subsequent inability to bear weight and an initial suspicion of cauda equina syndrome, which was eventually diagnosed as an SDAVF using magnetic resonance imaging.