Article

Retrospective study. Objectives :To identify factors associated with
the development of early onset post-traumatic syringomyelia within 5 years of
spinal cord injury.Setting:Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National
University School of Medicine, Korea.Methods:We retrospectively examined the
records of 502 patients with traumatic cervical or thoracic spinal cord injury
who underwent follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations more than
once a year for at least 5 years. Patients were assessed in terms of the
neurological level of injury, the severity of initial spinal cord injury, the use
of surgery and the extent of spinal canal involvement. The latter was evaluated
by calculating the shortest antero-posterior diameter of the injured vertebral
canal and the spinal reserve capacity as shown on MRI at the time of trauma onset
and at the time of diagnosis of syringomyelia.Results:Syringomyelia developed
within 5 years in 37 (7.3%) of the 502 patients. The mean age of these 37
patients was 44.6 years (range, 17-67 years) and the mean interval from spinal
cord injury to onset of syringomyelia was 38.8 months (range, 2-54 months). The
development of post-traumatic syringomyelia within 5 years was not significantly
related to the severity or level of injury, the use of spinal surgery or the
extent of spinal canal encroachment (P>/=0.05 for each
comparison).Conclusion:Early onset syringomyelia occurring within 5 years after
spinal cord injury was not associated with neurological injury level, severity of
injury, the use of spinal surgery or canal encroachment.

Langue : ANGLAIS