Syringo-Pleural Shunt for Failed Syringosubarachnoid Shunt in Posttraumatic Syringomyelia

ABSTRACT

The authors report a case of syringo-pleural shunt for recurrent distal obstruction of syringosubarachnoid shunt in a 23-year-old woman. She complained of tingling sensation and dysesthesia on the left upper extremity. Neuroradiologic imaging studies revealed syringomyelia in the left lateral side of the cord from medulla to 7th thoracic cord level. We identified intraoperatively high internal pressure of the syrinx cavity due to distal shunt tube obstruction. Syringo-pleural shunt was performed and cavity size was markedly decreased at later follow up MRI. In conclusion, the posttraumatic syrinx, especially in cases with previous syringosubarachnoid shunt or diffuse subarachnoid scarring, can be successfully managed with syringo-pleural shunt.