Management of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae with emphasis on an endovascular approach

Spinal arteriovenous shunts are rare and present at a rate of approximately 1:10 with cerebral arteriovenous shunts. Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are the most common type of spinal vascular malformation in the adult and account for about 60% of all, with a marked male predominance (5:1). Endovascular treatment has gained force as the treatment of choice in recent years. We reviewed the patients sent to our service at Clinica del Rosario in Madrid and Hospital General de Cataluña in Barcelona between January 1991 and December 2005 with a diagnosis of SDAVF made clinically or by imaging for possible endovascular treatment. Location, presenting symptoms, and clinical outcome according to treatment were analyzed. A total of 104 patients were diagnosed and treated for a SDAVF, 85 were men and 19 women aged between 23 and 79 years (average 58). Seventy-six were treated with embolization alone (73%), 21 with a combination of endovascular therapy and surgery (20.1%) and seven patients had surgery alone (6.7%). Of the embolization group, 62 patients were cured (81.5%), 11 improved (14.4%) and three (3.9%) worsened. Of the group with combined therapy, 13 (61.9%) were cured, five (23.8%) improved and three (14.2%) worsened. Among the surgery group, four (57.2%) were cured and three (42.8%) worsened. Endovascular approach with liquid adhesive is gaining more acceptance as the treatment of choice for SDAVF if the conditions allow a super selective catheterization of the shunt. These patients benefit most when diagnosis is made early in the course of the pathology and have a better chance of a complete remission of symptoms.