A post-traumatic enlargement of the central canal of the spinal
cord is termed syringomyelia. It occurs in approximately 1-3% of
all spinal cord-injured individuals. The primary risk of
syringomyelia is a loss of function above the level of the
original spinal cord injury. For example, in a patient with a
thoracic-level spinal cord injury may complain to his or her
physician of numbness and weakness involving the extremities.
The condition will progress with time and needs to be treated
aggressively through surgical drainage. Often patients with
early evidence of a syrinx will be followed to evaluate the
progression of the condition. Significant syringomyelia is
treated with surgical decompression and the placement of a
drainage tube into the spinal cord.
