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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
05:53
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Post-traumatic syringomyelia
O A Nielsen1, F Biering-Sorensen, U Bötel
1Department of Neurosurgery, The Neuroscience Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Spinal Cord
|November 11, 1999
Summary
Post-traumatic syringomyelia, a complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), affects over 20% of patients. This condition can manifest years after the initial injury, presenting a long-term clinical challenge.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
Background:
- Post-traumatic syringomyelia (PS) is a significant complication following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).
- Estimates suggest PS develops in over 20% of individuals with SCI.
- Clinical symptoms can emerge between 6 months and 26 years post-injury, with rare late presentations documented.
Observation:
- This report details an unusual case of post-traumatic syringomyelia.
- The case presentation highlights the extended timeline for symptom development after SCI.
Findings:
- The case underscores the potential for delayed onset of syringomyelia years after the initial traumatic spinal cord injury.
- Late presentation of PS, even decades post-injury, is a documented phenomenon.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of long-term monitoring for neurological changes in SCI survivors.
- Suggests a need for increased awareness among clinicians regarding the delayed development of PS.
- Further research into the pathogenesis and management of late-onset PS is warranted.
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