Syringomyelia symptoms & treatment

Syringomyelia is a condition where a cyst forms within the spine. Sometimes the cyst can be completely benign and cause no symptoms. It may even be discovered coincidentally. Other times, the cyst creates pressure on nerves and other structures in the spine and causes weakness, pain or other symptoms.

Expert treatment for syringomyelia

Count on our experienced surgeons and other team members to provide the best treatment and keep you involved at every step of your care.

• Care that’s focused on you: We work hard to find the treatment solution that works best for you. You may benefit from a customized physical therapy plan or you may need a minimally invasive surgical procedure. We consider your health goals, personal preferences and lifestyle when creating a care plan. Together, we’ll help you get back to enjoying your life.
• Collaborative orthopedic and neurosurgery care: Our multidisciplinary teams include both orthopedic and neurosurgery experts. We’re one of the only centers in Wisconsin that offers this kind of integrated care. Working together, we provide comprehensive, coordinated care that treats your pain and other symptoms while protecting the health of your spine.
• Minimally invasive techniques: If you need spine surgery, our orthopedic and neurosurgery experts use minimally invasive techniques, including utilizing a miniature robotic camera that’s more powerful than a microscope. Such methods deliver more precise surgery, with less damage to healthy tissue than conventional open surgeries. Patients usually have a more comfortable, faster recovery and better long-term results.

Symptoms & causes of syringomyelia

Most people have no symptoms at all. When symptoms occur, they can include:

• A burning sensation that spreads down your shoulder and arm
• Numbness
• Weakness in your arms and legs
• Headache
• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble walking
• An unstable gait

Syringomyelia is sometimes caused by a prior trauma to the spine. Or it can occur due to blockage of spinal fluid flow. The most common cause is Chiari syndrome, where the bottom part of the cerebellum hangs too low and puts pressure on the upper spine.

Diagnosis of syringomyelia

When you see one of our doctors for symptoms that may be related to syringomyelia, they’ll conduct a complete medical history, examine your spine and ask you about how your symptoms developed. They will also:

• Check your reflexes, muscle strength, range of motion and stability
• Perform imaging tests such as an MRI
• Provide an informed diagnosis that rules out other possibilities

Treatment of syringomyelia

Sometimes the best treatment for syringomyelia can be for you and your doctor to observe your symptoms over time. If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are mild, it may not be worth the risk to perform surgery.

Physical therapy may be suggested to improve balance and gait.

When surgery is needed, your doctor will use minimally invasive techniques to insert a shunt to drain fluid from the cyst into another part of the body that will absorb it.

The cyst can’t be removed because it’s covered by normal tissue. People who have syringomyelia will need to continue to watch for potential symptoms for the rest of their lives.

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