ABSTRACT
@#Objective To analyze MRI manifestations of post-traumatic syringomyelia and its formation mechanism.Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 31 patients with post-traumatic syringomyelia was carried out.Morphous and signal features of spinal cord and syringomyelia was observed by MRI.Results Among 31 patients,11 cases had syrinx extending to cervical cord,6 cases extending to cervicothoracic cord,4 cases extending to thoracic cord,5 cases extending to thoracolumbar cord,5 cases extending to whole spinal cord.5 cases of 31 patients had syrinx ascending to medulla oblongata,1 cases ascending to pons.The post-traumatic syringomyelia had signal intensities similar to cerebrospinal fluid on T1-weighted sequences and uniformed or ununiformed signals of increased intensity on T2-weighted sequences.23 cases of all patients can demonstrate adhesion and traumatic tethering by MRI.Conclusion MRI can not only demonstrate the characteristics of post-traumatic syringomyelia but also describe the range of spinal cord,arachnoid and dura mater adhesions,which is of value in deciding how to perform operations.
ABSTRACT
An experimental model was devised to elucidate the role of spinal blockade in post-traumatic syringomyelia. 38 White adult rabbits were divided into four groups:in Group 1, eight animals received traumatic injury only to the midthoracic area via the weight-drop method but no further treatment;in Group 2, 12 animals received a traumatic injury following injection of 100mg kaolin suspended in 1cc normal saline into subarachnoid space at the midthoracic trauma level;in Group 3, nine animals received traumatic injury following injection of 200mg kaolin in 1cc of normal saline into subarachnoid space;in Group 4, nine animals without injury received an injection of 00mg kaolin in 1cc normal saline solution into subarachnoid space at the midthoracic level. The subjective criteria for syrinx formation were the presence of a definite round cyst having a smooth margin and an upper or lower extension of more than 2cm from the injured site. Syrinx formation was seen in 12.5% in Group 1, 41.7% in Group 2, 55.5% in Group 3 , and 0% in Group 4(p<0.05). In subarachnoid space, the specimen of trauma and kaolin groups showed neutrophils infiltration and obstruction of subarachnoid space on acute stage. The pathologic changes in subarachnoid space on chronic stage were infiltration of kaolin-laden macrophages and chronic arachnoiditis. In parenchyma, hemorrhagic necrosis of the cord, edema, microinfarcts and liquefaction of hematoma were found on acute stage, and multiple cysts in white mater, cell-debris-laden macrophages in the cyst, formation of foam cells, microcysts, and large yst were shown. In Group 4, the same findings as other groups were shown in the subarachnoid space, but in the parenchyma there was no cyst formation. The results suggest that subarachnoid block secondary to adhesive arachnoidities is important in initiating the extension of the syringomyelia cavity that have already formed at the time of initial injury.