ABSTRACT
The differential diagnosis of idiopathic and syringomyelia associated scoliosis is important because corrective surgery for scoliosis associated with syringomyelia prior to management of syringomyelia can be dangerous. There are important imaging indicators for diagnosis of syringomyelia associated with scoliosis. A few of these indicators have been assessed in our study. A retrospective descriptive study including 38 patients with both scoliosis and syringomyelia was performed at the Shafa Yahyaeian center. Standard scoliosis series radiographs and MRI of all patients were studied. The type of scoliosis, location and magnitude of deformity, kyphosis or lordosis in the sagittal plane, location and size of syrinx were assessed. Thoracic kyphosis was present in 94.7% of patients. 37% of patients had scoliosis with convexity to left. Arnold -chiari malformation was present in 36% and cord tethering in 21% of patients. The locations of syrinx were as follows: 47.4%cervical, 44.6 thoracic, 2.7% lumbar and 5.3% were holocord. Kyphosis, abscence of lordosis in sagittal plane, progressive scoliosis and scoliosis with convexity to left are atypical findings and could be indicators of the presence of syringomyelia. If these indicators are present, a diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis should be made with caution
ABSTRACT
Traumatic spondyloptosis is a rare condition. It is a neurogenic complication due to high energy trauma and unstable spine which almost always needs surgical treatment . A 30 years old man with L4 spondyloptosis and L5 fracture, neurologic deficit in both lower limbs, urinary incontinence and visceral perforation referred to Shafa Yahyaeian Hospital He underwent nonsurgical treatment because he was a poor surgical candidate [Poor medical condition, visceral perforation and buttock bed sore]. At the last follow up three years after trauma, he was in good general condition with full recovery of his neurologic problem and ambulated without assistance. Although traumatic spondyloptosis needs surgical treatment, in special situations for very high risk patients, nonsurgical treatment can be a good alternative