[Syringo-peritoneal shunt]

The pathogenesis of syringomyelia is still under discussion. The authors advocate the role of the pressure of the spinal C.S.F. whose flow can be directed from the perimedullary space into the cavity. This force is responsible for an hydrodynamic dissection of the cord, even in cases of foraminal syringomyelia. Therefore it is not efficient to draw the fluid from the syrinx towards the subarachnoïd space. The authors suggest a syringoperitoneal shunt. The present report is only a technical note, according to the poor number of cases operated by this way (4 patients) and to a too-short follow-up (2 years for the first case).