POSTTRAUMATIC SYRINGOMYELIA

Course overview

POSTTRAUMATIC SYRINGOMYELIA REFERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CEREBROSPINAL FLUID-FILLED CAVITY WITHIN THE SPINAL CORD SEVERAL MONTHS OR YEARS AFTER A KNOWN TRAUMA. IT IS DISTINCT FROM THE TYPE OF SYRINGOMYELIA THAT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS SUCH AS THE CHIARI TYPE 1 MALFORMATION, WHERE OBSTRUCTION OF THE NORMAL CEREBROSPINAL FLUID FLOW CAN RESULT IN A SYRINX OCCURRING AS A SECONDARY PHENOMENON. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF POSTTRAUMATIC SYRINGOMYELIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS DISEASE.