Spinal Arteriovenous Malformations

Treatment

Surgical removal and endovascular embolization are the two main treatments for a spinal arteriovenous malformation.

Surgical Removal

Advances in technique have made surgical treatment safer and more effective. Surgery involves entering the spinal cord and removing the AVM, while causing as little damage as possible to surrounding tissue. This surgery is most appropriate when an AVM is located near the surface of the spinal cord and is relatively small.

At Mayo Clinic, 40 of these operations are performed each year, making Mayo Clinic one of the largest centers for this surgery.

Endovascular Embolization

In a procedure similar to an angiogram, a catheter is inserted into a leg artery and threaded through the body to the spinal arteries. The catheter is positioned in an artery that feeds the AVM and small particles or a gluelike substance are injected to block the vessel and reduce or eliminate blood flow into the AVM.

This procedure is often done prior to surgery to reduce the chance of bleeding during the operation, or to reduce the size of the AVM for treatment by conventional surgery. In some cases, endovascular embolization may completely obliterate or cure the AVM, eliminating the need for other therapy.