This article reports a case of spinal vascular malformation. The incidence of spinal vascular malformation is low, the onset of the disease is varied, and the early clinical symptoms are often atypical, making it easy to miss or misdiagnose the disease. In this case, the patient had a sudden onset of headache and was not examined for spinal cord at the beginning, which led to misdiagnosis of the disease at an early stage. This case report and review of the literature will deepen the understanding of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula. The case report and review of the literature are intended to enhance the understanding of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.