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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffIn some people, syringomyelia can become a progressive disorder and lead to serious complications. In others, there may be no associated symptoms and no intervention is necessary.
Complications that may occur as a syrinx enlarges or if it damages nerves within your spinal cord, include:
- Scoliosis — an abnormal curve of your spine
- Horner syndrome — a disorder that can occur when the nerves that run from your brain to your eye and face (sympathetic nerve fibers) are damaged, leading to decreased sweating on the side of your face that's affected, a drooping eyelid and a small (constricted) pupil
- Chronic pain — damage to the spinal cord can cause severe, chronic pain
- Motor difficulties — weakness and stiffness in your leg muscles can eventually affect your gait
References
- Syringomyelia fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/syringomyelia/detail_syringomyelia.htm. Accessed Dec. 12, 2010.
- Hauser SL, et al. Diseases of the spinal cord. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2904462&searchStr=syringomyelia#2904462. Accessed Dec. 6, 2010.
- What is syringomyelia? American Syringomyelia & Chiari Alliance Project. http://www.asap.org/syringomyelia. Accessed Dec. 12, 2010.
- Chiari malformation and syringomyelia: A handbook for patients and their families. Chiari and Syringomyelia Foundation. http://www.csfinfo.org/chiari_syringomyelia_cm_sm_handbook. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
- Simon RP, et al. Disorders of somatic sensation. In: Aminoff MJ, et al. Clinical Neurology. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5149281&searchStr=syringomyelia. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Eisen A. Disorders affecting the spinal cord. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 6, 2010.
- Krauss WE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 17, 2010.
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