Infarction of the spinal cord as a complication of pneumococcal meningitis

Spinal cord infarction in association with pneumococcal meningitis has not been previously recognized. The case is reported of a 5 1/2-year-old boy who had Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis complicated by the sudden onset of flaccid paraplegia and loss of all sensory modalities below the level of T-2. At operation, the spinal cord was pale and enveloped by dense adhesions, suggesting compromise of the arterial vasculature with concomitant infarction.