Fibrocartilaginous embolism after mountain cycling: a case report with clinical and radiological follow-up and almost complete recovery

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is a rare spinal cord infarction due to embolism of fibrocartilaginous material with consecutive arterial infarction of the anterior spinal artery. Physical activity with increased axial pressure is the underlying mechanism of the retrograde migration of primarily nucleus pulposus material into the arterial system of the spinal cord. The initial severity of the clinical symptoms is supposed to be a prognostic predictor of recovery and so far, no specific treatment recommendation exists.