Syringomyelia

Question 1

Syringomyelia (‘syrinx’ for short) describes

Answer 1

collection of cerebrospinal fluid within the spinal cord.

Question 2

X

Question 3

X

Question 4

X

Question 5

X

Question 6

X

Question 7

Causes include syringomyelia?

Answer 7

Chiari malformation: strong association
trauma
tumours
idiopathic

Question 8

Clinical features of Syringomyelia?

Answer 8

cape-like (neck, shoulders and arms)
loss of sensation to temperature and pain.

Preservation of light touch, proprioception and vibration

spastic weakness (predominantly of the lower limbs)

classic examples are of patients who accidentally burn their hands without realising

neuropathic pain

upgoing plantars

autonomic features:
Horner’s syndrome due to compression of the sympathetic chain, but this is rare
bowel and bladder dysfunction
scoliosis will occur over a matter of years if the syrinx is not treated

Question 9

pathophysio Syringomyelia?

Answer 9

this is due to the crossing spinothalamic tracts in the anterior commissure of the spinal cord being the first tracts to be affected
spastic weakness (predominantly of the lower limbs)