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. 2007 Oct;41(4):398-400.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.37006.

Post-traumatic syringomyelia

Amit Agrawal  1 , M Shantharam Shetty, Lekha Pandit, Lathika Shetty, U Srikrishna
Affiliations

Post-traumatic syringomyelia

Amit Agrawal et al. Indian J Orthop. 2007 Oct.

Abstract

Progressive post-traumatic cystic syringomyelia is an uncommon and increasingly recognized cause of morbidity following spinal cord injury. We hereby report a 35-year-old gentleman who sustained wedge compression fracture of L-1 vertebral body 15 years back and had complete paraplegia with bowel/bladder involvement. The neurological deficit recovered with minimal residual motor deficits and erectile dysfunction. He presented now with increasing neurological deficits associated with pain and paresthesia. The MRI spine showed a syrinx extending from the site of injury up to the medulla. He underwent a syringo-peritoneal shunt and at followup his pain and motor functions had improved but erectile dysfunction was persisting.

Keywords: Post-traumatic syringomyelia; spinal cord; syringomyelia; trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mid sagittal T2-weighted image of MRI of dorso-lumbar spine shows the post-traumatic khyphosis at the L1 level with syringomyelia
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mid sagittal T1-weighted image of MRI cervical spine (A) and T2 WI (B) shows syringomyelic cavity extending up to the medulla
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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