Syringomyelia following lumboureteral shunting for communicating hydrocephalus. Report of three cases.
Three patients are described in whom syringomyelia was identified long after the treatment of communicating hydrocephalus by a lumboureteral shunt. The reason for syrinx formation in these cases could not be determined. In two there was either autopsy-proven or presumed evidence for arachnoiditis, and in the third patient the symptoms of syringomyelia were acutely aggravated by temporary obstruction of shunt. The development of a pressure drop from the intracranial compartment to the spinal compartment with crowding at the foramen magnum is also a suggested mechanism.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000209:etiology*; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery