Transient attacks of man-in-the-barrel syndrome.

A 60-year-old man complained of 20-25 second episodes of bilateral arm paralysis. Neuroimaging disclosed spinal cord compression at the C3-4 level caused by a herniated disc and retrolisthesis. Spinal cord ischemia due to impingement of a vertebral artery or its spinal branch was suspected but could not be substantiated by neuroimaging. Discectomy and fusion eliminated these attacks.