SYRINGOMYELIA AND SCOLIOSIS

Pathological cavitation of the spinal cord was first called “ syringomyelia “ by Ollivier in 1837. He did not distinguish between cysts and central canal dilation, because the canal was not recognised as a normal structure until 1859. The first known description of the clinical signs was that of Duchenne (1872), though he called it progressive muscular atrophy. Schultze (1882) correlated the pathology of syringomyelia with the clinical syndrome. Syringomyelia is a chronic, slowly progressive degeneration ofthe spinal cord and medulla. Pathologically there is cavitation and gliosis within the substance of the cord. Clinically there is sensory dissociation with pain and temperature sensation involved, but not touch, at the level of the lesion, and weakness and wasting of the muscles of the involved segments. Impaired long tract function may be found distally. The cervical spine is most commonly affected, though the cystic lesions often extend proximally into the medulla and distally as far as the lumbo-sacral area. TABLE I SYRINGOMYELIA AND SC0LI0SIS Total number of patients with syringomyelia 43 Patients with scoliosis.... 27 Mild scoliosis (under 25 degrees).. IS Moderate scoliosis (25-50 degrees) 5 Marked scoliosis (over 50 degrees)