Neurosurgical considerations in posttraumatic syringomyelia

Syringomyelia is a progressive degenerative disorder that results in numerous life-altering symptoms. People with this disorder frequently are misdiagnosed and most likely will experience intractable pain for many years. Surgical procedures may offer some relief from symptoms through spinal decompression or cerebrospinal fluid shunting; however, these procedures often are unsuccessful in altering the course or progression of the disease process. Information on the implications of the disease offers insight that is helpful for nurses providing care to these patients. This article presents relevant clinical information and discusses surgical procedures, as well as a patient's perspective on living with this relatively unknown disorder.