How does anterior spinal artery thrombosis typically present?

Anterior spinal artery thrombosis results in a specific pattern of neurological deficit because it affects the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord, which primarily contains the corticospinal tracts responsible for voluntary motor control and the spinothalamic tracts responsible for pain and temperature sensation. This leads to a clinical presentation characterized by both motor paralysis and sensory deficits.

Patients typically experience motor paralysis due to damage to the corticospinal tracts, leading to weakness or paralysis of the muscles innervated by the affected spinal levels. Concurrently, since the spinothalamic tracts are involved, patients will also present with sensory deficits, specifically a loss of pain and temperature sensation below the level of the infarct. However, proprioception and vibratory sense—mediated by the dorsal columns—remain intact, distinguishing this condition from other spinal cord syndromes.

This combination of motor paralysis and sensory deficits aligns with the observed clinical manifestations of anterior spinal artery thrombosis, thereby confirming its accurate representation. Other options do not fully encapsulate the typical clinical presentation resulting from this condition, making this choice the most fitting.