Syrinx disappearance following laminoplasty in cervical canal stenosis associated with Chiari malformation--case report.
A 50-year-old woman presented with nuchal pain, clumsiness in both hands, and gait disturbance. Cervical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed cervical canal stenosis at C3-C7 levels associated with a syrinx and cerebellar tonsillar herniation. The patient underwent C3-C7 laminoplasty. Her symptoms improved completely, and the patient was discharged 10 days after operation. Postoperative MR imaging showed disappearance of the syrinx. This case suggests that cerebellar tonsillar herniation may not cause syringomyelia. Posterior decompression, such as laminectomy and laminoplasty, without foramen magnum decompression may be an appropriate surgical strategy for diffuse cervical canal stenosis associated with syringomyelia below the narrow canal, even in the presence of co-existing Chiari malformation.
Kato
Naoki
N
Department of Neurosurgery, Jikei University School of Medicine Kashiwa Hospital, Kashiwa, Chiba.
Tanaka
Toshihide
T
Nagashima
Hiroyasu
H
Arai
Takao
T
Hasegawa
Yuzuru
Y
Tani
Satoshi
S
Abe
Toshiaki
T
D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome