Diagnosis:
Clinical features plus MRI
Clinical features:
Suspended sensory level (loss of pain & temperature at a level on both sides),
Later on absent reflexes & weakness
Scoliosis, foot deformity (pes cavus, equinovarus), Charcot joint at the shoulder may occur
Findings on Investigations:
MRI:
- Cavity within the spinal cord, same signal characteristics as CSF
- Associated with Chiari Malformation
Treatment:
Treat the cause
If in conus medularis, consider terminal ventriculostomy i.e. resection of the filum terminale