Scoliosis associated with syringomyelia: clinical and radiologic correlation

Abstract

Study design: A retrospective review with statistical correlations of 112 patients having both scoliosis and syringomyelia was performed.

Objective: To determine whether there were significant correlations between the type of scoliosis, location of the syrinx, size of the syrinx, clinical manifestation of the syrinx, and associated lesions such as cord tethering and Chiari malformation (Chiari I or Arnold-Chiari II).

Summary of background data: The coexistence of scoliosis and syringomyelia has been described previously, but these detailed correlations have had minimal attention.

Methods: All patients at the center with scoliosis of any type plus a syrinx had a detailed chart and radiologic review coupled with detailed statistical analysis.

Results: Scoliosis and syringomyelia were seen in four diagnoses: myelomeningocele, myelomeningocele with congenital scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, and scoliosis with neither congenital anomalies nor myelomeningocele. Chiari malformation and cord tethering appear to have a major relation to scoliosis with syringomyelia.

Conclusions: Anomalies of the spinal cord or spinal column coexisting with lesions of the central nervous system have significant effects on the syrinx and scoliosis. There is a significant relation between the most caudal level of the syrinx and the locations of the scoliosis.