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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
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Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis
Published on: March 23, 2019
Observations on spine deformity and syringomyelia
Ulrich Batzdorf1, Larry T Khoo, David L McArthur
1Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-6901, USA. ubatzdorf@mednet.ucla.edu
Neurosurgery
|September 1, 2007
Summary
Complete laminectomies in patients with syringomyelia increase the risk of spinal deformities like scoliosis. Avoiding extensive bone removal, especially at spinal junctional areas, is crucial for preventing these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Neurology
Background:
- Spine deformities, including scoliosis, are frequently observed in patients with syringomyelia.
- Laminectomy is a surgical procedure sometimes used in the treatment of syringomyelia.
Observation:
- This study analyzed 169 patients with syringomyelia, assessing spinal deformity in relation to laminectomy extent and location.
- Spinal deformities were present in 41% of non-operated Chiari-syringomyelia patients and 57% of reoperated patients.
- Extensive bone removal during laminectomy was significantly associated with a higher incidence of spinal deformity.
Findings:
- Scoliosis was the most common spinal deformity, tending to be mild in non-operated patients and severe in those undergoing reoperation.
- Patients with more extensive laminectomies exhibited a higher prevalence of spinal deformities.
- Laminectomies at the cervical-thoracic and thoracolumbar junctions posed a particular risk.
Implications:
- Complete laminectomies should be avoided in syringomyelia patients to prevent worsening or development of spinal deformities.
- Hemilaminectomy is often sufficient for shunt placement.
- Consider instrumented stabilization for patients undergoing extensive laminectomy, particularly those at high risk for deformity.
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