[Late posttraumatic syringomyelic syndromes. Pathogenetic theories apropos of 3 cases]

Three patients with a post-traumatic spinal cord cavity are described: clinical signs are identical to those of syringomyelia, but pain is more frequent. Diagnosis is made easier by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a syringoperitoneal shunt is proposed for treatment. Nevertheless, if results are good, they seem worse than in idiopathic syringomyelia. The main pathogenic theories are discussed: the rupture and coalescence of microcysts developed at a distance of 1 or 2 mm from the transected spinal cord, subsequently leads to syrinx formation; haemorrhagic or ischemic post-traumatic areas could also lead to syrinx formation. Hydrodynamic factors could be expected and make the pathogenesis not far from syringomyelic one.