[Clinical observations on syringomyelia treated by syrinx-peritoneal shunting with "T" tube]

We 22 cases of syringomyelia were verified by MR and treated by syrinx-peritoneal shunting with "T" tube. After the operation, the patients were reexamined by MR and B ultrasound and confirmed that their shunting was functional. Symptoms of the patients disappeared. But four patients got slight numbness in one leg or at the saddle area. One patient suffered from a difficult movement in one hand. With the exception of 6 patients, 16 showed that both of the newly and original symptoms improved significantly. Follow up for 2 years with regular MR and B ultrasound reexaminations was made. The patients resumed their work and study. MR and B ultrasound reexaminations showed that all of syrinxes collapsed significantly as the same as that after the operation immediately. These mean that this kind of operation is useful and effective for most syringomeylias.