Syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine treatment. Chronic disease syringomyelia: what is it and how to treat progressive pathology of the nervous system

Syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine is a disease in which several pathologies are observed at once. Syringomyelia cannot be called an independent disease; it develops against the background of several disorders of the functioning of the spine.

With this disease, the spinal cord in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae is damaged. Cysts form in it - small cavities with fluid. It is the cyst that has a negative effect on the brain and causes symptoms of syringomyelia.

Syringomyelia is a pathology that can itself be a symptom of serious spinal diseases, such as a tumor or injury. In rare cases, syringomyelia of the spinal cord occurs without a specific cause. This type of disease is called idiopathic.

What is syringomyelia?

Syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine is an incurable disease that can be acquired or congenital. Congenital syringomyelia is inherited, most often through the male line, its first symptoms appear at about 30 years of age, but can occur much later.

The danger of syringomyelia is that the disease can spread above the cervical and thoracic regions and enter from the spinal cord into the medulla oblongata, which is an important part of the brain. A complication of syringomyelia can be the destruction of not only the spinal cord, but also the bone tissue of the thoracic and cervical spine. This pathology is quite rare and still does not have an exact scientific explanation, since with other causes of spinal cord destruction such extensive damage to the integrity of bone tissue is not observed.

The process of cyst formation is explained by the massive death of glial tissue cells. When there is injury or disease of the spine, glial tissue begins to grow rapidly, then these same cells quickly die, and a cavity forms in their place. After some time, fluid enters the cavity through other cells of the spinal cord. It gradually fills them to the limit, and then begins to expand and enlarge - a cyst is formed. The cyst begins to put pressure on other parts of the spine, mainly on other nerve cells. Gradually, active neurons begin to die, and the person’s motor activity is impaired.

Causes of the disease

The exact cause of the development of syringomyelia has not yet been scientifically substantiated or established. At the same time, doctors put forward several scientific hypotheses for the occurrence of a pathological condition of the spine.

Syringomyelia symptoms

With true, congenital syringomyelia of the thoracic and cervical spine, the following signs may be observed, which may appear during the intrauterine development of the child:

congenital scoliosis and deformed chest;
development of malocclusion and jaw abnormalities (high palate);
the presence of more than one pair of mammary glands (in women) or nipples (in men);
the disease leads to such deformities as ear dysplasia, bifurcated tongue, and the presence of extra fingers and toes.

The symptoms of acquired syringomyelia vary significantly. The cause of their occurrence is associated with those parts of the spinal cord where the cyst or several cysts appeared. If disturbances affect the posterior horns of the spinal cord, a person’s perception of the outside world through sensations, primarily tactile, is significantly affected. This can become dangerous not only for health, but also for human life.

Syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine affects the heat sensitivity of human skin. Its violation leads to the fact that the patient cannot adequately sense the temperature of objects and liquids, so patients with syringomyelia often experience burns. Areas may appear on the body that may be completely or partially deprived of sensitivity, and a person may feel a slight tingling in these places, the appearance of “goosebumps” and slight trembling. Typically these symptoms appear in the upper parts of the body. Over time, they are complemented by aching pain in the neck, shoulder blades, chest and upper limbs.

The disease provokes neurotrophic skin disorders:

wounds do not heal well;
a lot of scars appear on the skin from minor cuts and burns;
the skin begins to deform along with the joints and bones;
the skin gradually becomes thicker, dries out and flakes.

If syringomyelia damages the anterior horn of the spinal cord, symptoms indicate gradual atrophy of the muscles of the upper extremities. Over time, it becomes increasingly difficult for a person to control his arms, shoulders and neck, and a disturbance in the motor activity of the eyeballs may develop.

When a cyst forms in the lower parts of the brain, the functioning of the facial muscles is disrupted. A person may partially or completely lose facial expressions, it becomes difficult for him to speak, swallow, move his jaws and tongue, and his face may become distorted.

Treatment of syringomyelia

For syringomyelia, treatment is supportive in nature and is aimed primarily at reducing the symptoms of the disease. Typically, syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine practically does not progress, but does not decrease. The sluggish nature of the disease rarely has a significant negative impact on a person’s performance and does not in any way affect life expectancy. The only exception is a cyst that is located directly in the medulla oblongata, as it affects breathing and nutrition.

Syringomyelia can be cured if treatment is aimed at stopping the proliferation of glial cells. To do this, when diagnosing the possible formation of a cyst, the patient is injected with a certain amount of radioactive phosphorus or iodine. By irradiating cells, radioactive elements destroy them and prevent tissue from growing further.

If syringomyelia has already occurred, it can be treated with medication under the supervision of a neurologist. Treatments include dehydrating agents that help remove excess fluid from tissues, neuroprotectors, and, for severe pain, analgesics in the form of injections.

Vitamin courses and massage are used as additional therapy. Massage for syringomyelia helps speed up the outflow of fluid from the spinal cord. It can also prevent the formation of cysts after hemorrhages in the spinal cord or injuries.

Treatment of true syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine occurs with the help of surgery.

In this case, drug treatment can only partially alleviate the symptoms of the disease. A complete cure for true syringomyelia is almost impossible.

Surgery is also mandatory if a cyst appears in the case of a malignant tumor.

Syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine is a pathological condition in which the normal functioning of the spinal cord in these parts is disrupted. Syringomyelia is not an independent disease, but a complex syndrome that can manifest itself against the background of a number of pathological conditions. The causes of syringomyelia are currently not precisely known.

This syndrome is characterized by the formation of fluid-filled cavities (cysts) in the spinal cord tissue in the cervical and thoracic spine. These cysts put pressure on the nerve tissue, causing damage to the spinal cord and disruption of its functioning. Characteristic symptoms of syringomyelia: decreased tactile sensitivity, muscle weakness and impaired movement, pain and bone deformation. Without proper treatment, the disease can spread higher and cause damage to the medulla oblongata.

What is syringomyelia?

The disease is congenital or develops against the background of other pathologies. Congenital syringomyelia occurs predominantly in men. The first signs of the disease appear at the age of about 30 years. Lesions occur predominantly in the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. In other cases, the disease is idiopathic in nature - that is, the exact causes of the pathology cannot be established.

The lesion predominantly develops in the cervical and thoracic spinal cord, but cysts may begin to form higher up, affecting the medulla oblongata. This condition poses a serious danger because the centers responsible for breathing and heartbeat are located in the medulla oblongata. In some cases, with the development of syringomyelia, damage to the bone tissue of the cervical and thoracic spine also occurs.

In general, the principle of syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine is as follows: in the spinal cord there is first an increase, and then a massive death of glial cells - these are the cells of the nervous tissue that provide nutrition and protection directly to the neurons. At the site of glial cell death, a cavity is formed, which is then filled with fluid. Thus, a cyst is formed, which gradually increases in size and puts pressure on the nervous tissue of the spinal cord. Neurons begin to gradually die, and a disruption in the functioning of the spinal cord occurs.

Causes of the disease

The exact reasons for the formation of cavities are currently unknown. This syndrome can be hereditary or develop against the background of other diseases.
Possible causes of syringomyelia:

Disruption of the connection between the base of the skull and the spinal column;
Injuries of the cervical and thoracic spine;
Malignant or benign tumor of the spinal cord;
Disruption of the intrauterine development of the neural tube, which then turns into the baby’s spinal cord.

In any case, it is believed that the onset of the pathological process is preceded by damage to the spinal cord caused by one or another negative impact. In response to damage, glia cells begin to actively divide and tissue proliferation occurs. As a result, the pressure inside the spinal column increases, the nutrition of glial cells is disrupted, which leads to their death and the formation of a cyst.

Syringomyelia symptoms

At the beginning of the development of the disease, clinical manifestations may be absent. The size of the cyst in this case is insignificant, it does not put pressure on the nerve cells and does not cause the death of neurons. The increase in cyst size occurs slowly. The first symptoms of the disease may appear several years after the formation of cavities in the spinal cord begins.

As the tumor grows, characteristic symptoms of syringomyelia appear:

Pain.
Pain can occur in the back in the area where the cyst develops or in any other point of the body where innervation is impaired. Most often, a person experiences pain in the upper limbs and collar area, as well as headaches. The pain becomes more intense when performing physical exercises or against the background of hypothermia. At rest, a person experiences virtually no discomfort. As the disease progresses, the pain intensifies and gradually turns into chronic pain.
Decreased sensitivity.
Disorders of the spinal cord are manifested by a decrease in tactile sensitivity. This symptom occurs when the neurons responsible for the innervation of a particular area of the skin are damaged. A patient with syringomyelia suffers from partial or complete loss of temperature and pain sensitivity. This can lead to injuries and burns because the person simply does not experience pain and may not notice the damage. Violation of the innervation of certain areas of the skin leads to disruption of their nutrition and the appearance of purulent lesions. Trophic disorders of the skin lead to disruption of thermoregulation and sweating, and a decrease in the barrier function of the skin.
Decreased physical activity.
With syringomyelia, motor neurons are also affected. This leads to muscle weakness and impaired movement and decreased reflexes. Most often, this syndrome affects the upper extremities. This symptom is characteristic of later stages of pathology.
Violation of the structure of bone tissue.
With syringomyelia, not only the tissue of the spinal cord is affected, but also the bones. This symptom is typical for most patients (up to 70%). The patient develops bone deformation and joint dysfunction: their enlargement, tissue proliferation, or, conversely, dystrophy. Most often, curvature of the spine develops.

Patients may also experience disturbances in the functioning of other organ systems:

heart and vascular diseases: arrhythmia, decreased blood pressure;
disruptions of the gastrointestinal tract: exacerbation of chronic infections, liver disease;
abnormal blood count: decreased number of leukocytes and decreased immunity.

If syringomyelia affects the bulbar part of the medulla oblongata, this is manifested by a number of characteristic signs:

violation of taste sensitivity;
numbness of the tongue, speech impairment;
disturbances in swallowing and breathing processes;
decreased sensitivity of facial skin;
hearing impairment;
voice change: it becomes hoarse.

These signs are associated with the development of a cyst in the medulla oblongata and damage to the sublingual, glossopharyngeal, vagus nerves, pons and other vital structures. The occurrence of these symptoms is an ominous sign. With further growth of the cyst, damage to the respiratory center, cessation of breathing and heartbeat, and death of the patient may develop.
With the congenital form of the pathology, the child may experience intrauterine development disorders:

violation of the structure of the spine and chest, scoliosis;
abnormalities in jaw development, malocclusion;
the formation of two or more pairs of mammary glands (in girls) and nipples (in boys);
ear dysplasia;
formation of more than 10 fingers on the lower and upper extremities;
formation of a forked tongue.

Diagnostics

To establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the extent of damage to the nervous tissue, a number of diagnostic procedures are carried out:

magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord;
electromyographic study showing disturbances in the conduction of nerve impulses;
X-ray examination showing abnormalities in the structure of bone tissue and joints.

Treatment of syringomyelia

Unfortunately, there are currently no effective treatments for the disease. Syringomyelia develops slowly but steadily, and the patient's condition gradually worsens. Treatment for syringomyelia is mainly symptomatic.

Massage of the collar area is useful for this disease. This procedure improves blood circulation and nutrition of cells in this area. This helps reduce pain and improve tissue innervation. Massage also improves the outflow of fluid from the spinal cord, which somewhat reduces the size of the cyst and improves the patient’s well-being. Patients are recommended to undergo regular massage therapy courses. In addition, you can rub and massage the collar area, neck, shoulders and arms yourself.
Nutrition is also important in therapy. The patient's diet should include a large amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits as sources of vitamins. B vitamins are especially important for the treatment of the disease. It is also important that a person receives a sufficient amount of protein from food. The amino acids that make up protein foods help improve the conduction of nerve impulses.

There are folk remedies that serve to increase sensitivity and improve the conduction of nerve impulses. This treatment also reduces pain. In folk medicine, decoctions of medicinal herbs are used:

Capers. The roots of this plant are used for treatment. To prepare the decoction, 2 tsp. crushed roots are poured into a glass of water and boiled over low heat for 10 minutes, then left for another half hour. Dosage of this decoction: 1 tbsp. l. 4–5 times a day.
Chestnut. Treatment is carried out with chestnut bark. The bark is rubbed, poured with cold water and left overnight. For 400 ml of water you need to take 1 tbsp. l. bark. The next morning, filter the infusion and take ¼ cup 4 times a day.
Black cohosh. An alcohol tincture of the roots of this plant is prepared. The roots need to be cut and filled with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5. The drug is infused for a week, then filtered. Standard dosage: 25 drops of tincture 3 times a day. The tincture is dissolved in 50 ml of cold boiled water.
Clover. In 200 ml of boiling water you need to steam 3 tsp. clover grass. Keep the infusion warm for 2 hours, then filter. Standard dosage: 50 ml 4 times a day. Clover grass is not thrown away, but used for compresses.

Prognosis and prevention

More than half of patients experience slow progressive development of the disease. In another quarter of people, periods of deterioration are followed by remission and normal well-being. In 15% of patients, cysts, having reached a certain size, stop growing further, and the disease does not develop.

In any case, the symptoms of the disease increase very slowly. Most of the time, a patient with acquired syringomyelia remains able to work and is able to lead a normal life. The disease is not fatal and rarely leads to serious problems. A dangerous form of syringomyelia is considered to be syringobulbia, a pathology in which cysts form in the medulla oblongata. Dysfunction of the medulla oblongata can lead to cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

Currently, there are no effective measures to prevent the disease, since its causes are not precisely known. To prevent the onset of syringomyelia, spinal injuries should be avoided.

Write in the comments about your experience in treating diseases, help other readers of the site!
Share the material on social networks and help your friends and family!

Syringomyelia is characterized by the formation of cavities or cysts in the spinal cord. The disease can be caused by a number of pathologies of the spinal cord and central nervous system, as well as injuries.

Syringomyelia according to ICD-10 is assigned code G95.0. The exact causes of syringomyelia have not yet been reliably studied. Pathology can appear in a number of diseases, such as oncological diseases of the spinal cord or its injuries.

The pathology is characterized by the formation of cavities in the spinal cord. This occurs due to the rapid proliferation and further breakdown of glial tissue, as a result of which the dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid is disrupted.

The disease can occur as a result of a congenital abnormality of the spinal cord and skeleton. Often the cause of the pathology is the improper development of the nervous system in the prenatal period. Syringomyelia can also be caused genetically. The disease is often diagnosed among the population of regions with low migration rates.

Another likely reason for the appearance of spinal cord irregularities is a lack of nutrients necessary for the formation of the nervous system during the prenatal period.

Due to the structure of the skeleton, syringomyelia of the neck or lumbar region is most common. This is due to the peculiarities of the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid in these areas of the spine.

Syringomyelia is a chronic disease of the nervous system; it is not possible to cure the pathology. Prognosis, supportive therapy and symptoms depend on the form of the disease.

Syringobulbia is a similar disease that affects other parts of the spinal canal. Syringomyelia and syringobulbia are classified equally according to ICD 10.

How does syringomyelia develop?

A pathology caused by a congenital disorder of glial tissue is called true syringomyelia. In this case, there is a tendency to increased growth of cells in the glial tissue of the cerebrospinal fluid of the cervical and lumbar spine. In order for glial tissue to grow, it is necessary to be exposed to some provoking factor - this could be an infectious disease or injury to the spinal canal.

The rapid proliferation of cells leads to the fact that over time they die, forming cavities. Fluid accumulates in the cavities, which is why the disease is often called cystic formation of the spinal cord. Due to the accumulation of fluid, the cavity increases in size, which leads to irritation of adjacent nerve cells. As a result, nerve cells are compressed, degenerate and die.

The more the disease progresses, the more cavities are formed. As a result, the number of dying nerve cells increases.

True syringomyelia is accompanied by congenital anomalies of skeletal development. Patients often experience severe scoliosis, kyphosis, increased arm length, abnormal development of fingers (six-fingered), skull asymmetry, and bifurcation of the tongue. This form of the disease is familial in nature, that is, it is observed in several generations of the same family. Most often, true syringomyelia occurs in men aged 20-50 years.

True syringomyelia is a rare disease that occurs in no more than 30% of cases. The most common form of the disease is associated with an abnormal development of the craniovertebral junction - that is, the area where the spine connects to the skull. This is a congenital structural anomaly that provokes expansion of the spinal canal. Due to this expansion, the gray matter filling this area is gradually destroyed, causing the development of syringomyelia.

Symptoms of pathology

Syringomyelia disrupts the integrity of the spinal cord. This leads to the development of symptoms of nervous system dysfunction.

The symptoms of syringomyelia are caused by the death of nerve cells due to an increase in the size of the spinal canal. The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

pain syndrome;
skin sensitivity disorders;
Horner's syndrome;
nail damage;
impaired reflexes;
eye nystagmus;
trophic changes in the skin.

The first symptom of the development of the disease is headache. Patients may also complain of pain in the hands and lower extremities. Due to damage to nerve cells, skin sensitivity is impaired. This usually affects the skin of the torso; the lower extremities are involved in sensory disturbances much less frequently. The abundance of injuries, minor household burns and cuts makes it possible to determine the manifestation of sensitivity disorders, since during traumatic exposure the patient does not feel pain and may not notice the damage for a long time.

Horner's syndrome is characterized by a triad of symptoms of a neurological disorder - weakening of the eyelid, enlarged pupils and sunken eyes. In this case, eye nystagmus may be observed - a violation of the movement of the eyeball. Horner's syndrome is usually observed with cervical syringomyelia.

Syringomyelia of the cervical and thoracic spine may be accompanied by trophic changes in the skin and joints. This is manifested by degenerative changes in the joint tissue, as well as the formation of growths and deformation of the joints. Typically the changes affect the shoulder and elbow joints.

Patients may experience gradual atrophy of the hands with corresponding impairment of reflexes. In this case, the nail is affected and the nail plate may peel off. The development of short-term paresis of the limbs is possible.

The progressive disease leads to the development of muscle atrophy, changes in joints, and also affects the lower extremities. However, due to the slow progression of the pathology, complete immobilization of the patient does not occur.

Separately, there is syringomyelic syndrome, which is observed with meningitis and anomalies in the structure of the craniovertebral junction.

Syringomyelia, treatment of which is started in a timely manner, does not affect the patient’s life expectancy.

When does the disease appear?

Syringomyelia is a chronic disease with slow progression. It is not uncommon for a long time to pass from the formation of cavities in the spinal canal to the appearance of the first symptoms and diagnosis - up to 25 years.

Often the dynamics of the development of the disease is very slow, there is no sharp increase in symptoms. In half of the cases, the first symptoms of pathology appear in old age against the background of other diseases that are difficult to tolerate in older age (infectious diseases, pneumonia).

Sometimes the patient may not know about syringomyelia and what it is may emerge by chance during examination of other organs.

Very rarely (no more than 7% of the total number of patients) rapid development of pathology is observed. In this case, with syringomyelia, the symptoms increase over four to five years and ultimately lead to the patient’s disability.

Diagnosis of pathology

The diagnosis is made by a neurologist. First, the doctor examines the patient and analyzes complaints. Particular attention is paid to disorders of skin sensitivity and impaired reflexes. The patient is then referred for the following examinations:

MRI of the spine and head;
electroencephalography of the brain;
examination of cerebral vascular tone;
cerebrospinal fluid examination.

A magnetic resonance imaging scan may show changes in the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid. MRI can detect the presence of cavities in the spinal canal. Also, to exclude oncological diseases of the brain, tomography is indicated.

If the joints are affected, an x-ray is indicated, which makes it possible to identify degenerative changes and deformation of the joint capsule.

Treatment of pathology

When treating syringomyelia, the severity of the disease plays an important role. At the initial stages, when the proliferation of glial tissue begins, radiation methods are used in therapy to stop this process. In this case, irradiation occurs in those parts of the spine in which pathologically rapid cell proliferation begins. Irradiated preparations of iodine or phosphorus can also be used for this purpose. When introduced into the body, these substances quickly accumulate and irradiate areas with growing tissue from the inside, allowing you to quickly influence this process.

An important stage of such treatment is to protect the thyroid gland and other organs from destructive effects. For this purpose, additional drugs are used.

Drug treatment is prescribed by a neurologist. This therapy includes the following medications:

vitamin and mineral complexes;
neuroprotectors;
dehydrating drugs;
painkillers.

Drugs are often prescribed to improve the passage of impulses along nerve fibers. For maximum effect, the use of such drugs in conjunction with physiotherapeutic methods, for example, UHF, is indicated.

Medication methods do not allow you to get rid of the cavities that have formed. This therapy is recommended to stop the progression of the disease, and is therefore used in the initial stages and as supportive measures in patients with syringomyelia.

The resulting cavities in the spinal canal cannot be cured with medication. For this purpose, surgical treatment is used. Shunting is usually practiced.

Forecast

It is impossible to completely get rid of syringomyelia. However, this disease in most cases does not affect the patient’s life expectancy or ability to work.

It is important to prevent the progression of the pathology and regularly see a doctor. For this purpose, the doctor will prescribe drug maintenance therapy, which should be followed throughout life, repeating the course of treatment on average twice a year. Physiotherapeutic methods and exercise therapy may also be prescribed.

The danger with syringomyelia is common household injuries and burns. Due to impaired sensitivity, the patient may not notice the damage, which can lead to infection. A feature of the disease is the immunity of some areas of the skin to critical temperatures, so the patient should be prepared for the fact that he may not be able to recognize the danger in time and suffer a serious burn or frostbite of the skin.

If the progression of the disease is stopped in time, syringomyelia does not lead to problems with self-care and practically does not impose restrictions on the patient’s work activity. However, patients themselves must remember that they are not recommended to work with traumatic materials or in conditions of increased danger, since due to impaired sensitivity the patient will not be able to react in time to skin damage.

Syringomyelia is a fairly common neurological disease. There are many forms of manifestation of the disease, which are determined by the causes of its occurrence. The vast majority of cases are associated with congenital anomalies of the patient's development, but there are also acquired conditions.

Why does syringomyelia occur?

Doctors distinguish between true and acquired forms of the disease. In the first case, the development of syringomyelia is associated with abnormal growth of the bones of the skull in the area where it connects to the spine. The result is a condition called Arnold-Chiari malformation - entrapment of the rhombencephalon and cerebellum in the posterior cranial fossa.

True syringomyelia is a hereditary disease. Its initial manifestations may be noticed at the age of 25–40 years or may never occur. The disease in its true form affects mainly men and accounts for about 80% of all known cases.

The remaining patients suffering from syringomyelia have an acquired form of the disease. Syringomyelia syndrome can be provoked by infectious inflammation of the spinal cord and brain (meningitis, arachnoiditis, etc.). It is believed that in some cases the reason may be too much physical activity. Common causes of cavities in the spinal cord are spinal injuries.

Manifestations of the disease

When a diagnosis of syringomyelia is made, relatives and the patient himself naturally ask what it is. Both true and acquired disease is expressed in the formation of cavities in the tissue of the spinal cord. Over time, a certain amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetrates into them. As the cyst increases in volume, it begins to put pressure on the surrounding nerve cells, impeding the passage of signals or leading to tissue degeneration.

In any case, the patient experiences a number of characteristic symptoms:

pain in the neck, shoulders, arms;
paresthesia of different localization (numbness, tingling sensation, burning or cold, etc.);
muscle weakness and muscle atrophy, flaccid paralysis;
vegetative symptoms (excessive sweating, hypertrophy of fatty tissue on the fingers, keratinization of the skin, joint deformation, etc.).

In addition to general symptoms, other signs associated with disorders of tissue trophism and the conduction of nerve impulses may also occur. Most patients experience a loss of thermal sensitivity in certain areas of the body.

Often the congenital disease affects the entire skeleton, leading to scoliosis and kyphosis, spina bifida. A number of patients develop signs of hydrocephalus (dropsy of the head). If tissue nutrition is disrupted, hair may fall out more or grow poorly. Some people also have ear abnormalities.

If the symptoms are mild, doctors may for some time mistake manifestations of cervical syringomyelia for multiple sclerosis or a brain tumor (brain, spinal).

Back pain can be so similar to the symptoms of a herniated disc that the patient tries to be treated with folk remedies for this disease, without turning to specialists. But when conducting an MRI, doctors establish a diagnosis with full confidence in it at the stage of constant and mild back pain.

Diagnosing the disease at an early stage allows you to take timely measures to reduce the rate of development of the process and relieve some symptoms of the disease, which can lead to disability.

If the cyst is localized in parts of the brain, respiratory function may be impaired, and the help of a doctor will be absolutely necessary to save the patient’s life. Other bulbar symptoms lead to speech disorders, swallowing, and loss of voice. Therefore, if you have any suspicions, it is better to contact a neurologist without wasting precious time.

Disease prognosis

If the true form of the disease does not show significant progress, then the patient may not be prescribed any medications. In this case, you will only need constant monitoring by a neurologist in order to detect neurological signs of the development of pathology in time. Syringomyelia cannot be cured, but it is not life-threatening, so doctors only stop the consequences of its progress: loss of sensitivity, movement disorders.

In some cases (approximately 25%), the progression of the disease may be replaced by a relatively stable condition of the patient. About 15% of the total number of people who have cysts found in different parts of the spinal cord do not feel any worsening of their condition at all. Except for cases of syringobulbia (cyst formation in the respiratory center), the prognosis of the disease is relatively favorable. Syringomyelia develops very slowly and most often does not lead to complete loss of mobility.

Disability with syringomyelia can occur if the anomaly is not detected in a timely manner, when the cyst has increased so much that some of the nerve cells have died from the pressure. When cavities are localized in the thoracic spinal cord, paralysis and paresis of the upper limbs occur. Then treatment comes down to minimizing the consequences.

What can be done for treatment?

The disease detected in the initial stage (proliferation of the medulla) is treated with radiotherapy. In this case, the cells are irradiated to stop their uncontrolled reproduction. But there are other treatment methods that are effective at later stages of the disease.

If neurological symptoms are detected, appropriate medication therapy is administered. Only a neurologist should prescribe drugs to treat the disease. All of these remedies have contraindications, and independent treatment can bring nothing but harm.

The doctor will prescribe dehydrating substances (Furosemide, Acetazolamide, etc.), which will help reduce the amount of fluid in the cyst cavity. To relieve neurological symptoms, neuroprotectors are prescribed (glutamic acid, Bendazole, Piracetam, etc.). To reduce the pain that appears during the development of syringomyelia, doctors use modern analgesics.

Treatment involves an integrated approach, so it will be impossible to help yourself at home. But the patient can help alleviate his condition by attending procedures prescribed by specialists:

massage;
acupuncture;
physiotherapeutic procedures.

To improve neuromuscular conduction, radon baths and special gymnastics can be prescribed.

Massage for syringomyelia includes stroking and rubbing, percussive techniques in the abdomen, chest and back. If sensitivity is lost in these areas, 3–4 courses of 15–20 procedures are prescribed. The use of massage procedures in combination with therapeutic exercises and electrical muscle stimulation for 1 year can achieve a noticeable improvement in the patient’s condition.

Surgery is used only in cases where decompression of the spinal cord or brain is required. In this case, the indication for surgery is a sharply increasing neurological deficit. This symptom is expressed in paresis of the legs and arms caused by compression of nerve cells or their death. During the operation, the cavities are drained and adhesive formations are removed, which generally leads to stabilization of the person’s condition.

Prevention of syringomyelia

Measures to prevent cystic formations in the spinal cord have not currently been developed. Prevention can only be carried out in the direction of preventing the progression of symptoms and limiting situations where the patient may accidentally receive a burn or frostbite, or a household injury.

Due to the fact that the sensitivity of some parts of the body is reduced, a person does not feel pain from a burn and may not notice another injury. In this case, massive blood loss may occur and a severe degree of thermal injury may occur. Often a small wound that is undetected and not treated in time becomes infected.

The development of local inflammation, which in a healthy person will cause pain and the need for the services of a doctor, in case of loss of sensitivity often leads to sepsis.

Prevention of this condition is entirely in the hands of the patient and his relatives, who will have to monitor the timely detection of injury. It is also necessary to take measures to ensure safety at home for such a patient.

By undergoing symptomatic therapy for the manifestations of syringomyelia and carefully following the doctor’s instructions, the patient maintains his usual lifestyle for a long time. Since the process of cyst formation and growth occurs very slowly, doctors are able to respond in a timely manner to changes in the patient’s condition. All he is required to do is follow the recommendations of specialists.

Syringomyelia is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in which cavities form in the spinal cord canals. Most often the cervical and thoracic spine are affected, less often the lumbar spine.

In very rare cases, the medulla oblongata is involved in the process. This disease is quite rare and most often occurs in men.

Mechanism of disease development

As a result of the development of the disease, the spinal canal expands, after which the fluid flowing through it encounters obstacles, bends around them, and cavities appear in places where this bypass occurs. Over time, glial cells begin to grow in these cavities.

These cells are auxiliary cells of nerve tissues; nerve impulses are not transmitted through them. The absence of nerve impulses between the spinal cord and organs leads to the appearance of the main symptoms characteristic of syringomyelia.

Several decades may pass from the onset of the disease to the first symptoms.

There are two types of disease:

Communicating syringomyelia - the resulting cavities connect to the spinal cord canal.
Uncommunicative syringomyelia – cavities are isolated from the canal.

Main reasons

The reasons that can cause a violation are divided into two types:

Primary– these include congenital disorders of embryo development. In this case, the formation of cavities occurs in the first three months of intrauterine development. Factors contributing to this may include taking certain medications, drinking alcohol, smoking and other unfavorable factors, and heredity. In more than 80% of cases, congenital syringomyelia is accompanied by dysraphic status.
Secondary– these include some diseases (inflammation of the membranes of the brain), injuries, and surgical interventions.

Symptoms of the disorder and diagnosis

The disease develops long and slowly, so in the early stages symptoms do not appear. As a rule, the first symptoms appear in childhood, but they are so minor that they are often ignored. More serious symptoms appear at the age of 20-30, and at this time syringomyelia is most often diagnosed.

A doctor can suspect syringomyelia based on three characteristic groups of disorders:

If cervical syringomyelia is observed, then these symptoms are accompanied by Horner's syndrome, manifested in retraction of the eyeball, drooping eyelids and dilated pupils.

The diagnosis is made mainly on the basis of existing symptoms. As a rule, they are so characteristic that the diagnosis is beyond doubt.

The photo shows syringomyelia of the cervical spine

If the neurologist needs confirmation, he will prescribe additional examinations. These include x-rays, which can be used to see osteoporosis, bone destruction. They can also do myelography or lumbar puncture. These methods allow you to see cavities in the spinal cord.

Medical assistance - what do doctors do?

Syringomyelia is an incurable disease. Therefore, the main goal of its treatment is to eliminate symptoms and stop the disease itself.

There are several ways to treat the disorder:

Treatment of syringomyelia disease occurs throughout the patient’s life. The methods and scope of methods used depend on the stage of the disease. Drug treatment is carried out in courses from two to four times a year.

Disease prognosis

True syringomyelia is not fatal, but significantly worsens the patient’s quality of life. In most patients, periods of exacerbation and remission alternate. In a small number of patients the disease does not progress at all. At later times stages of the disease leads to disability of the patient.

The course of the disease is much worse if it is complicated by infectious diseases. In this case, the likelihood of developing sepsis, bronchopneumonia, kidney disease and the genitourinary system increases.

A fatal outcome can occur if not only the spinal cord, but also the medulla oblongata is involved in the process. In this case, frequent complications include breathing disorders () and swallowing, which leads to the death of the patient. Most often, complications occur with secondary syringomyelia.

Prevention methods

Unfortunately, at the moment there are no primary methods for preventing the disease.

Since one of the factors that can provoke a disorder is spinal injury, as well as various types of infections, preventive measures include avoiding injuries, as well as their serious treatment.

Secondary prevention measures include early diagnosis. Detection of the disease at an early stage makes it possible to apply effective treatment methods, slow down the course of the disease and significantly prolong the patient’s working capacity.