Yuping D Li1, Chris Therasse2, Kartik Kesavabhotla1, Jason B Lamano3, Aruna Ganju1. 1. Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 2. Advanced Radiology Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. 3. Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
Abstract
Context: Symptomatic post-traumatic syringomyelia can affect the quality of life in patients whose neurologic function has already been impacted by a spinal cord injury.Objective: To investigate the radiographic and clinical outcomes following surgery for syringomyelia, we present a literature review along with a case series from a single surgeon's experience. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients with post-traumatic syringomyelia who were treated by a single surgeon. Thirty-four patients who underwent surgical treatment consisting of syrinx fenestration, lysis of adhesions, and duraplasty were identified. In addition, a narrative literature review was conducted with a primary focus on diagnosis and management of post-traumatic syringomyelia. Results: Literature review suggests that regardless of age, sex, vertebral location, or severity of trauma, patients who experience a spinal cord injury should be closely monitored for post-traumatic syringomyelia. Retrospective review of our 34 patients revealed 24 patients for whom pre- and post- operative MRI was available. The predominant location of the injury was cervical (15). The average syrinx length, measured in spinal segments, was similar when comparing pre- and post-operative MRIs; average syrinx length was 5.5 and 5.4 spinal segments, respectively. In contrast, syrinx axial dimension was decreased in 16 of the patients post-operatively and stable or increased in the other eight. The change in syrinx size did not correlate with clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Current surgical treatment of post-traumatic syringomyelia involves restoration of normal CSF flow dynamics; further prospective work is needed to correlate the clinical state, radiographic measures, and efficacy of surgical intervention.
Context: Symptomatic post-traumatic syringomyelia can affect the quality of life in patients whose neurologic function has already been impacted by a spinal cord injury.Objective: To investigate the radiographic and clinical outcomes following surgery for syringomyelia, we present a literature review along with a case series from a single surgeon's experience. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients with post-traumatic syringomyelia who were treated by a single surgeon. Thirty-four patients who underwent surgical treatment consisting of syrinx fenestration, lysis of adhesions, and duraplasty were identified. In addition, a narrative literature review was conducted with a primary focus on diagnosis and management of post-traumatic syringomyelia. Results: Literature review suggests that regardless of age, sex, vertebral location, or severity of trauma, patients who experience a spinal cord injury should be closely monitored for post-traumatic syringomyelia. Retrospective review of our 34 patients revealed 24 patients for whom pre- and post- operative MRI was available. The predominant location of the injury was cervical (15). The average syrinx length, measured in spinal segments, was similar when comparing pre- and post-operative MRIs; average syrinx length was 5.5 and 5.4 spinal segments, respectively. In contrast, syrinx axial dimension was decreased in 16 of the patients post-operatively and stable or increased in the other eight. The change in syrinx size did not correlate with clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Current surgical treatment of post-traumatic syringomyelia involves restoration of normal CSF flow dynamics; further prospective work is needed to correlate the clinical state, radiographic measures, and efficacy of surgical intervention.