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Ibrahim GM, Kamali-Nejad T, Fehlings MG. Arachnoiditis ossificans associated with syringomyelia: An unusual cause of myelopathy. Evid Based Spine Care J. 2010;1(2):46-51doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1100914.
Ibrahim, G. M., Kamali-Nejad, T., & Fehlings, M. G. (2010). Arachnoiditis ossificans associated with syringomyelia: An unusual cause of myelopathy. Evidence-based spine-care journal, 1(2), 46-51. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1100914
Ibrahim, George M, et al. "Arachnoiditis ossificans associated with syringomyelia: An unusual cause of myelopathy." Evidence-based spine-care journal vol. 1,2 (2010): 46-51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1100914
Ibrahim GM, Kamali-Nejad T, Fehlings MG. Arachnoiditis ossificans associated with syringomyelia: An unusual cause of myelopathy. Evid Based Spine Care J. 2010 Aug;1(2):46-51. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1100914. PMID: 23637667; PMCID: PMC3623106.
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Evid Based Spine Care J. 2010 Aug;1(2):46-51. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1100914.

Arachnoiditis ossificans associated with syringomyelia: An unusual cause of myelopathy.

Evidence-based spine-care journal

George M Ibrahim, Tara Kamali-Nejad, Michael G Fehlings

Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, Krembil Neuroscience Center, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 23637667 PMCID: PMC3623106 DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1100914

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:  The pathophysiology of arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) and its association with syringomyelia remains a rare and poorly understood phenomenon. Here, we present a case of AO associated with syringomyelia, a review of literature, and a discussion of current understanding of disease pathophysiology.

METHODS:  A literature review was performed using MEDLINE (January 1900-May 2010) and Embase (January 1900-May 2010) to identify all English-language studies that described AO with syringomyelia. The current report was added to published cases.

RESULTS:  Over 50 cases of AO are reported in literature, of which only eight are associated with syringomyelia. The various presumptive etiologies of syrinx formation include abnormalities in blood circulation, ischemia, hydrodynamic alternations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, tissue damage, or incidental coexistence. Changing CSF dynamics related to decreased compliance of the subarachnoid space and subsequent paracentral dissection of the spinal cord may be implicated in the disease process. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning may identify the syrinx but fail to diagnose the calcified arachnoid. Five patients, including the current case, improved clinically following laminectomy and decompression.

CONCLUSIONS:  Syringomyelia in association in AO is a rare phenomenon. A high index of suspicion is required and both MRI and computed tomography (CT) are recommended for diagnosis. The pathophysiology of syringomyelia in AO remains an area of ongoing research.

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