Neurochirurgie
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In this paper, we discuss the historical and pathophysiological aspects of syringomyelia. Defined as fluid cavities extending beyond several segments within the spinal cord this pathological entity is a condition with many possible causes. Hindbrain herniation is the commonest foramen magnum abnormality associated with the so called "hindbrain related syringomyelia". ⋯ Arachnoid scarring is related in many case to spinal trauma or occurs after spinal meningitis, spinal intradural surgery, peridural anesthesia, subarachnoid hemorrhage. Rarely an extra medullary compression is discussed. The mechanism involved is here again an alteration of the CSF flow at the spinal level.
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Clinical Trial
[Characterization of sensation disorders and neuropathic pain related to syringomyelia. A prospective study].
The present prospective study aimed to perform quantitative sensory testing (QST) in patients with painful or painless syringomyelia before and after surgical treatment of their syrinx (at 3 and 9 months). Eighteen consecutive patients with cervical or dorso-lumbar syringomyelia completed the study and 9 underwent surgery. Twelve patients had central neuropathic pain (of whom 6 were followed up). ⋯ Surgery induced a significant decrease of tactile deficits, and to a lesser extent, of thermal deficits. Effects on neuropathic pain were positive in 3 patients (total disappearance of pain) and negligible or negative in 3 patients, despite collapse of the syrinx (in 2 cases). These results confirm that QST are useful in clinical practice to quantify the clinical results of surgery in patients with syringomyelia, and allow some hypotheses about the mechanisms of neuropathic pain in these patients.
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We conducted a retrospective study of 32 patients treated for syringomyelia associated with non-traumatic arachnoid scarring. We selected the cases with documented history of arachnoiditis with pre and post-operative clinical evaluation of the neurological status and anatomical study on MRI with a minimal follow-up of one year. Extensive arachnoid scarring (Group I) was noted in 18 cases, after spinal meningitis in 15 cases (tuberculosis in 9 cases, listeria in 3 cases, pyogenic meningitis in 3 cases), subarachnoid hemorrhage in 3 cases. ⋯ Basal arachnoid scarring without hindbrain herniation (Group III) was associated with birth injuries in 4 cases. Shunting of the syrinx to the subarachnoid or peritoneal cavity was associated with a recurrence rate of 60% whereas microsurgical dissection of the arachnoid scar and decompression of the subarachnoid space with a recurrence rate of 33%, with a mean follow-up period of 28 months. Successful long-term management of the syrinx was associated with basal or focal spinal arachnoid scarring, no history of spinal meningitis, microsurgical dissection of the arachnoid scar and decompression of the subarachnoid space.