Electrodiagnosis in post-traumatic syringomyelia

Development of a syrinx several years post spinal cord trauma is a well-known entity and described in a number of scientific communications. Each one describes the few cases encountered with the clinical presentations; many report results of myelography with positive or negative contrast media, operative procedures, and eventual outcome as well as discussions of autopsy material. It is believed by many investigators and clinicians that surgical intervention frequently stops the progression of the syrinx and sometimes even reverses the symptomatology. Early exact diagnosis is thus paramount. Electromyography if used judiciously, may be an important adjunct to proper diagnosis and prognosis. In a patient with previous spinal cord trauma, frequently even post-surgical procedures, the interpretation is often difficult. This paper discusses the electrodiagnostic findings in three patients with post-traumatic syrinx and compares them with electrodiagnostic changes observed in a spinal cord injury patient with increased symptomatology due to other causes and two patients with non-traumatic cervical syringomyelia.