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[A case report of post-traumatic syringomyelia].
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery
|October 1, 1984
Summary
Post-traumatic syringomyelia developed 26 years after spinal cord injury, causing severe pain and neurological deficits. Surgical intervention relieved pain but did not restore lost motor and sensory functions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
Background:
- This case study examines a rare instance of post-traumatic syringomyelia presenting 26 years after initial thoraco-lumbar spine trauma.
- The patient experienced paraplegia following the injury, later regaining ambulation after laminectomies.
Observation:
- The patient developed intractable burning pain in the left scapular region and forearm, followed by muscle atrophy, weakness, and sensory loss.
- Neurological examination revealed absent deep tendon reflexes, dissociated sensory loss in specific dermatomes, and paraparesis.
Findings:
- Metrizamide-enhanced CT scan confirmed an intramedullary syrinx extending from C2 to L1 vertebral levels.
- A syringoperitoneal shunt effectively alleviated the patient's pain immediately post-procedure.
Implications:
- This case highlights the delayed onset and complex presentation of post-traumatic syringomyelia.
- The findings support alternative theories on syrinx formation, such as the Ball and Dayan hypothesis, over traditional hydrodynamic models in post-injury scenarios.