Cystic cord cavity that may (hydromyelia) or may not (syringomyelia) communicate with central canal
Artificial distinction → syringomyelia is commonly used term
PTS implies syrinx formation is related to prior trauma
Syrinx may occur in posttrauma patients with complete recovery from trauma and patients without direct cord injury
Cephalad extension to brainstem medulla is termed syringobulbia
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Holmström U et al: Neurosurgical untethering with or without syrinx drainage results in high patient satisfaction and favorable clinical outcome in post-traumatic myelopathy patients. Spinal Cord. 56(9):873-82, 2018
Aghakhani N et al: Surgical treatment of posttraumatic syringomyelia. Neurosurgery. 66(6):1120-7; discussion 1127, 2010
Ewelt C et al: Impact of cordectomy as a treatment option for posttraumatic and non-posttraumatic syringomyelia with tethered cord syndrome and myelopathy. J Neurosurg Spine. 13(2):193-9, 2010
Falci SP et al: Posttraumatic spinal cord tethering and syringomyelia: surgical treatment and long-term outcome. J Neurosurg Spine. 11(4):445-60, 2009
Reis AJ: New surgical approach for late complications from spinal cord injury. BMC Surg. 6:12, 2006
Vannemreddy SS et al: Posttraumatic syringomyelia: predisposing factors. Br J Neurosurg. 16(3):276-83, 2002
Lee TT et al: Outcome after surgical treatment of progressive posttraumatic cystic myelopathy. J Neurosurg. 92(2 Suppl):149-54, 2000
Jinkins JR et al: MR of parenchymal spinal cord signal change as a sign of active advancement in clinically progressive posttraumatic syringomyelia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 19(1):177-82, 1998
Perrouin-Verbe B et al: Post-traumatic syringomyelia and post-traumatic spinal canal stenosis: a direct relationship: review of 75 patients with a spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 36(2):137-43, 1998
Kramer KM et al: Posttraumatic syringomyelia: a review of 21 cases. Clin Orthop. (334):190-9, 1997
Schurch B et al: Post-traumatic syringomyelia (cystic myelopathy): a prospective study of 449 patients with spinal cord injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 60(1):61-7, 1996
Falcone S et al: Progressive posttraumatic myelomalacic myelopathy: imaging and clinical features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 15(4):747-54, 1994
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Posttraumatic syrinx (PTS)
Synonyms
Syringomyelia, syringohydromyelia
Definitions
Cystic cord cavity that may (hydromyelia) or may not (syringomyelia) communicate with central canal
Artificial distinction → syringomyelia is commonly used term
PTS implies syrinx formation is related to prior trauma
Syrinx may occur in posttrauma patients with complete recovery from trauma and patients without direct cord injury
Cephalad extension to brainstem medulla is termed syringobulbia
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Holmström U et al: Neurosurgical untethering with or without syrinx drainage results in high patient satisfaction and favorable clinical outcome in post-traumatic myelopathy patients. Spinal Cord. 56(9):873-82, 2018
Aghakhani N et al: Surgical treatment of posttraumatic syringomyelia. Neurosurgery. 66(6):1120-7; discussion 1127, 2010
Ewelt C et al: Impact of cordectomy as a treatment option for posttraumatic and non-posttraumatic syringomyelia with tethered cord syndrome and myelopathy. J Neurosurg Spine. 13(2):193-9, 2010
Falci SP et al: Posttraumatic spinal cord tethering and syringomyelia: surgical treatment and long-term outcome. J Neurosurg Spine. 11(4):445-60, 2009
Reis AJ: New surgical approach for late complications from spinal cord injury. BMC Surg. 6:12, 2006
Vannemreddy SS et al: Posttraumatic syringomyelia: predisposing factors. Br J Neurosurg. 16(3):276-83, 2002
Lee TT et al: Outcome after surgical treatment of progressive posttraumatic cystic myelopathy. J Neurosurg. 92(2 Suppl):149-54, 2000
Jinkins JR et al: MR of parenchymal spinal cord signal change as a sign of active advancement in clinically progressive posttraumatic syringomyelia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 19(1):177-82, 1998
Perrouin-Verbe B et al: Post-traumatic syringomyelia and post-traumatic spinal canal stenosis: a direct relationship: review of 75 patients with a spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 36(2):137-43, 1998
Kramer KM et al: Posttraumatic syringomyelia: a review of 21 cases. Clin Orthop. (334):190-9, 1997
Schurch B et al: Post-traumatic syringomyelia (cystic myelopathy): a prospective study of 449 patients with spinal cord injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 60(1):61-7, 1996
Falcone S et al: Progressive posttraumatic myelomalacic myelopathy: imaging and clinical features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 15(4):747-54, 1994
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