Syringomyelia: a clinical review of 75 cases

Abstract

Records of 75 patients with syringomyelia are reviewed. Their clinical course fell into one of three main groups: (1) those with a long history of a steadily progressive disability; (2) those with a long history but little or no progression of their disability; and (3) those with a short, fairly rapid downhill course.On the basis of this study, x-ray therapy seems to be of little value in the treatment of this disease. Surgical treatment on the other hand appears to offer more hope for a selected group of patients who are progressing at the time of examination. In this group surgery is recommended (1) in the presence of a foramen magnum anomaly with signs and symptoms related to this deformity; (2) in the presence of a distended cord with pain and evidence of a spinal fluid block; and (3) when the possibility of an ependymoma exists.