There is
no
specific therapy
for syringomyelia, though surgery is widely advocated; however, results are
neither predictable nor satisfactory, and relapses occur.
- Surgical:
- syringotomy
- surgical decompression of syrinx
- syringostomy
- drainage of syrinx into subarachnoid space
- for
Arnold-Chiari malformation - posterior fossa decompression with suboccipital
craniectomy, upper cervical laminectomy (i.e. decompression of upper cervical
canal by removal of posterior rim of foramen magnum, arches of atlas and
axis, and decompression of upper cervical canal)
- for
hydrocephalus - ventriculoperitoneal shunting
- decompression
of cervicomedullary junction restores normal hydrodynamics of CSF flow
and pressure and can lead to elimination of syrinxes associated with Arnold-Chiari
malformation
- Rehabilitation management,
ethical and psychosocial issues:
- an interdisciplinary
rehabilitation team combines expertise to minimize the resulting primary
and secondary disabilities in activities of daily living, mobility, balance,
gait, etc. Specific impairments to be dealt with include sensory loss,
UMN and LMN weakness of upper extremities, UMN weakness of lower extremities
and loss of bowel, bladder and sexual function.
- rehabilitation efforts
reduce the social impact (handicap) of the disorder to aid the client
in achieving a fulfilling quality of life; although patients with syringomyelia
may not be cured, health care can still have a large role in helping people
cope with the resulting disabilities
