Syringomyelia

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

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