Syringomyelia as a complication of spinal arachnoiditis.
BACKGROUND
The authors report a 46-year-old female patient who was referred to this unit for assessment of chronic postsurgical back pain. She reported severe burning pain in the lumbar region accompanied by burning pain and loss of sensation in the lower limbs. She had previously undergone lumbar spinal surgery on three occasions preceded by myelography.


METHODS
Examination revealed generalized weakness and hypertonicity of both lower limbs with loss of all sensory modalities below D7.


RESULTS
The MRI scanning of the thoracic spine showed an extensive complex syrinx within the thoracic cord.


CONCLUSIONS
She underwent syringopleural shunting, and her condition has remained stable.
Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.
T B
TB
Brammah
M I
MI
Jayson
D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*