History of post-traumatic syringomyelia: Post traumatic syringomyelia prior to 1920

Abstract

Study design: Review of five cases of post-traumatic syringomyelia originally described between 1898-1920. Objectives: To describe the earliest presentation of post-traumatic syringomyelia and to compare to modern day views of this condition. Setting: Historical review. Results: Pathogenesis and interpretation of the findings are discussed in the light of current knowledge. Conclusion: Credit for the first description of post-traumatic syringomyelia (in 1898) should go to W Wagner and P Stolper.