A chronic disorder characterized by pathologically by
the presence of long cavities surrounded by gliosis,situated in the central
part of the spinal cord and often extending up into the medulla
Or,
Syringomyelia is a rare disorder in which a cyst
forms within your spinal cord. As the cyst, which is called a syrinx, expands
and lengthens over time, it compresses and damages part of your spinal cord
from its center outward.
Damage to the spinal cord caused by a syrinx can
cause symptoms like progressive pain, stiffness, and weakness in the back,
shoulders, arms, and legs. Individuals with the disorder might lose the ability
to feel cold and pain normally. Some people with this disorder will not have
any symptoms and will not need treatment. For others, syringomyelia will cause
symptoms and complications that worsen as the syrinx expands.
Treatment aims to relieve the pressure on your
spinal cord. The treatment your doctor suggests for you will depend on the
cause of your syringomyelia. Follow-up care after surgery is important because
syringomyelia can reoccur.
Cause:
Most cases of syringomyelia are caused by a
malformation of the brain known as a Chiari type 1 malformation (CM1). A CM1 occurs
where the brain joins the spinal cord; in this malformation, the cerebellum
(brainstem) lies lower than normal. Often the cerebellar tonsils (the base of
each lobe of the cerebellum) protrude from the skull and into the spinal canal.
Syringomyelia can develop as a complication of
trauma, meningitis, hemorrhage, a tumor, or arachoiditis. Arachoiditis is a
progressive inflammatory disorder that affects the arachoid or middle membrane
that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. A primary arachoid cyst is present at
birth, but it may take years for symptoms to appear
Symptoms:
Symptoms of the disorder are caused by the pressure
the syrinx puts on the spinal cord and the damage that follows. The symptoms
may include:
• progressive weakness and pain in back, shoulders,
arms, or legs
• inability to feel hot or cold normally
• loss of pain sensations
• difficulty in walking
• bowel and bladder function problems
• facial pain and numbness
• scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit
your doctor. If you have had a spinal injury, it is important to watch for
these symptoms. It may take months or even years after your injury for
syringomyelia to develop.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the progression of the
disorder and whether you are experiencing symptoms that disrupt your life. If
you have no symptoms or mild symptoms, you will not need treatment; your
neurologist will monitor the progression of the disorder.
If your symptoms are negatively affecting your
life, your neurologist will recommend surgery. The goal of surgery is to
relieve the pressure on your spinal cord. The type of surgery will depend on
the cause of your syringomyelia.
If you have a CM1 malformation, your surgeon may
suggest surgery to expand the base of your skull and the covering of your
brain. This will take pressure off your spinal cord and your brain. The normal
flow of cerebrospinal fluid should be restored. For most people, this surgery
resolves their syringomyelia.
In some cases, your surgeon will use a shunt to
drain the syrinx. The shunt, a small, flexible tube, is placed in the syrinx,
and excess fluid is drained. Sometimes the surgeon is able to completely drain
the syrinx during surgery. If not, the shunt remains in place after your
surgery.
If you have a tumor or bony growth that is causing
syringomyelia, removal of the growth may resolve the syringomyelia.
After surgery you may be prescribed a course of
antibiotics to prevent complications from infection. Physical therapy can help
strengthen muscles in limbs that suffered progressive weakness.
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন