Syringomyelia

Abstract

Syringomyelia is not a disease in its own right but a manifestation of another disease process, which incorporates either an obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the spinal canal, tethering of the spinal cord, or an intramedullary tumor. Whenever a syrinx is demonstrated, clinical examination, analysis of the patient's history, and neuroradiological imaging have to identify the underlying cause of the syrinx. If this cause can be identified and treated successfully, the syrinx will regress, and clinical symptoms will improve or remain stable in the future. The significance of spinal arachnopathies for development and treatment of syringomyelia in patients without a craniospinal malformation, a spinal dys- raphic malformation, or an intramedullary tumor is still not widely recognized. This chapter describes diagnostic and management algorithms for spinal arach- nopathies leading to syringomyelia with a special emphasis on posttraumatic syringomyelia as well as long-term results for these patients.