What is syringomyelia? There are these symptoms

Syringomyelia is a tubular cavity in the spinal cord caused by multiple factors. The development of this disease is very slow and is common in men aged 20-40. The causes of syringomyelia are congenital and acquired. Common acquired causes include spinal cord tumors.

1. Symptoms and Signs

1. This disease is more common in people aged 20 to 40, and more common in men than in women. Clinical symptoms progress very slowly. Due to the different locations, sizes and ranges of the cavities, the symptoms are also inconsistent. The most common site of the cavity is in the spinal cord at the junction of the cervix and thoracic region. Early symptoms are mostly spontaneous pain in the corresponding distribution area (the cavity begins at the bottom of the posterior horn of the gray matter on the dorsal side of the central canal), segmental dissociated sensory impairment, gradually expanding to the upper limbs and chest and back, with a short-shirt-like distribution of decreased or absent pain and temperature sensation, while touch and deep sensation are preserved. Patients often seek medical treatment when they find that they have no pain after injury. In the late stage, the syrinx extends to the spinothalamic tract, and conduction tract sensory disturbances occur below the level of the syrinx.

2. When the anterior horn cells are affected, the corresponding segmental muscle atrophy, muscle fasciculations, decreased muscle tone and weakened tendon reflexes will occur. When the cavity is located in the cervical enlargement, muscle atrophy of both hands will be obvious. Pyramidal tract signs appear below the level of the cavity, and Horner's sign appears if the lesion invades the lateral sympathetic nerve center of the 8th cervical nerve to the 1st thoracic nerve.

3. Loss of joint pain sensation can lead to neurogenic arthropathy, joint wear, atrophy and deformity, joint swelling, increased range of motion, friction sound but no pain during movement, namely Charcot joint. Skin nutritional disorders are also common, such as skin thickening, excessive keratinization, burns and cuts on the epidermis in the area of ​​loss of pain causing stubborn ulcers and scar formation, and even painless necrosis and shedding of the ends of the fingers and toes (Morvan sign). In late stages, neurogenic bladder and urinary and fecal incontinence may occur.

Pathogenesis

1. Congenital causes

2. Acquired causes

It is mostly caused by spinal cord tumors, arachnoiditis and trauma. Trauma can cause necrosis in the central part of the spinal cord, resulting in accumulation of exudate and destruction products, increased osmotic pressure and fluid retention. Due to the increased intramedullary pressure, the surrounding tissues can be destroyed, causing the cavity to gradually expand. Animal experiments have found that some tiny cysts appear near the severed ends of the spinal cord. It can be inferred that the rupture and fusion of these cysts may be the cause of the formation of the cavity. Syringomyelia after arachnoiditis is mainly caused by ischemia and venous thrombosis. Syringomyelia caused by spinal cord tumors is mainly related to the secretion of proteinaceous fluid by tumor cells.