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Introduction Nerve sheath tumours arise from both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In particular, cases of spinal or paraspinal origins are scarce and poorly covered in the literature. This systematic review aims to summarise the body of evidence regarding spinal nerve sheath tumours and assess its quality, to provide the current knowledge on epidemiology, tumour characteristics, diagnostics, treatment strategies and outcomes.Methods and analysis Databases including PubMed, Web of Science and Embase will be searched using keywords such as “spinal”, “nerve sheath”, “neurofibroma”, “schwannoma”, “neurinoma” and “neurilemoma”. The search will be limited to studies published no earlier than 2000 without language restrictions. Case reports, editorials, letters and reviews will be excluded. Reference lists of identified studies will be searched to find possible additional relevant records. Identified studies will be screened for inclusion, by one reviewer at first and then two independent ones in the next step to increase the external validity. The Rayyan platform will be used for the screening and inclusion process. Data extraction within several predetermined areas of interest will proceed. Subjects of interest include epidemiology, histopathology, radiological diagnostics, surgery, complications, non-surgical treatment alternatives, disease outcomes and predictors of outcome, and recurrence rates. On satisfactory amount of homogenous data, a meta-analysis of key outcomes such as recurrence risk or postoperative neurological improvement will be performed. This systematic review will primarily serve as a reference guide to aid in diagnosis and treatment of patients with spinal schwannomas, while also spotlighting the knowledge gaps in the literature to help guide future research initiatives.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required for the protocol or review as both are based on existing publications. For dissemination, the final manuscript will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

Background and objectives Spontaneous spinal cord infarction (SCInf) is a rare condition resulting in acute neurological impairment. Consensus on diagnostic criteria is lacking, which may present a challenge for the physician. This review aims to analyse the current literature on spontaneous SCInf, focusing on epidemiology, the diagnostic process, treatment strategies and neurological outcomes.Methods The study was performed in accordance with a previously published protocol. PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched using the keywords ‘spontaneous’, ‘spinal cord’, ‘infarction’ and ‘ischaemic’. The eligibility of studies was evaluated in two steps by multiple reviewers. Data from eligible studies were extracted and systematically analysed.Results 440 patients from 33 studies were included in this systematic review. Analysis of vascular risk factors showed that hypertension was present in 40%, followed by smoking in 30%, dyslipidaemia in 29% and diabetes in 16%. The severity of symptoms at admission according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale was score A 19%, score B14%, score C36% and score D32%. The mean follow-up period was 34.8 (±12.2) months. ASIA score at follow-up showed score A 11%, score B 3%, score C 16%, score D 67% and score E 2%. The overall mortality during the follow-up period was 5%. When used, MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) supported the diagnosis in 81% of cases. At follow-up, 71% of the patients were able to walk with or without walking aids.Conclusion The findings suggest a significant role for vascular risk factors in the pathophysiology of spontaneous SCInf. In the diagnostic workup, the use of DWI along with an MRI may help in confirming the diagnosis. The findings at follow-up suggest that neurological recovery is to be expected, with the majority of patients regaining ambulation. This systematic review highlights gaps in the literature and underscores the necessity for further research to establish diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines.

Introduction Spinal cord infarction (SCInf) is a rare ischaemic event that manifests with acute neurological deficits. It is typically classified as either spontaneous, defined as SCInf without any inciting event, or periprocedural, which typically occur in conjunction with vascular surgery with aortic manipulations. While periprocedural SCInf has recently been the subject of intensified research, especially focusing on the primary prevention of this complication, spontaneous SCInf remains less studied.Methods and analysis Electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and Embase, will be searched using the keywords “spinal cord”, “infarction”, “ischemia” and “spontaneous”. The search will be set to provide only English studies published from database inception. Editorials, letters and reviews will also be excluded. Reference lists of relevant records will also be searched. Identified studies will be screened for inclusion, by one reviewer in the first step and then three in the next step to decrease the risk of bias. The synthesis will address several topics of interest including epidemiology, presentation, diagnostics, treatment strategies, outcomes and predictors. The review aims to gather the body of evidence to summarise the current knowledge on SCInf. This will lead to a better understanding of the condition, its risk factors, diagnosis and management. Moreover, the review will also provide an understanding of the prognosis of patients with SCInf with respect to neurological function, quality of life and mortality. Finally, this overview of the literature will allow the identification of knowledge gaps to help guide future research efforts.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was not required for our review as it is based on existing publications. The final manuscript will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.