[Late post-traumatic syringomyelia. Discussion apropos an atypical case]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background:

• Late post-traumatic syringomyelia is an uncommon condition characterized by progressive cavitation within the spinal cord.
• Clinical signs typically manifest years after severe cervical spinal cord trauma.

Observation:

• This case presented atypical progression, with syringomyelia symptoms developing only 3 weeks post-injury, lacking immediate neurological signs.
• The etiology was debated: trauma-induced syringomyelia, aggravation of pre-existing hydromyelia, or coincidence.

Findings:

• A silicon tube was surgically inserted to drain the spinal cord cavity into the subarachnoid space.
• This intervention resulted in a notable improvement in the patient's neurological condition.

Implications:

• This case highlights the varied presentation of post-traumatic syringomyelia and the potential efficacy of surgical intervention.
• Further research is warranted to understand the pathophysiology and optimize treatment strategies for this rare neurological disorder.