title: Chiari malformation, cervical disc prolapse and syringomyelia--always think twice.
abstract: We present the case of a 36-year-old man with neck pain and parasthesia of both upper limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a cervical disc protrusion with spinal cord compression, a Chiari I malformation and cervical syringomyelia. On clinical grounds it was suspected that the cervical stenosis was the symptomatic pathology and an anterior cervical decompression was performed, followed by arthroplasty. Post-operative imaging demonstrated adequate canal decompression, preserved cervical mobility and near-complete resolution of the syrinx. Syringomyelia has a multitude of causes and synchronous pathology can occur. Cervical spondylosis is infrequently associated with syringomyelia. Chiari I malformations are increasingly incidentally detected and asymptomatic. This first report of arthroplasty for cervical spondylosis associated with syringomyelia adds to the growing body of experience with this new technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Highway, St. Leonards, 2065 New South Wales, Australia. dr.ball@optusnet.com.au
authors.forename: Jonathon R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery