Syringomyelia is damage to the spinal cord due to a fluid-filled hole that forms in the cord.
The fluid buildup in syringomyelia may be caused by:
The fluid-filled cavity usually begins in the neck area. It expands slowly, putting pressure on the spinal cord and slowly causing damage.
There may be no symptoms, or symptoms may include:
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
A nervous system (neurologic) examination may show a loss of feeling or movement caused by pressure on the spinal cord.
Other tests that may be done include:
The goals of treatment are to stop the spinal cord damage from getting worse and to improve function.
Surgery to relieve pressure in the spinal cord may be needed. Physical therapy may be needed to improve muscle function.
The health care provider may need to drain the fluid buildup. See: Ventriculoperitoneal shunting
Without treatment, the disorder gets worse very slowly. Over time it will cause severe disability.
Surgery usually stops the condition from getting worse. About 50% of people will have improvements in nervous system function after surgery.
Without treatment, the condition will lead to:
Possible complications of surgery include:
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of syringomyelia.
There is no known way to prevent this condition, other than avoiding injuries to the spinal cord. Getting treated right away slows the disorder from getting worse.
Syrinx
Rekate HL. Spinal cord disorders. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme J, Schor N, Behrman RE, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 598.
Updated by: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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