Syringomyelia Resolution Following Chiari Surgery: A Novel Scale for Communication and Research. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: The pathophysiological connection between Chiari malformation and syringomyelia is accepted. Debate remains, however, how can we best define changes in syringomyelia following surgery. OBJECTIVE: To introduce a grading system focusing on syrinx reduction based on routinely and reproducible radiological information, and provide a suggestion of the application of this scale for prediction of patient's prognoses. METHODS: Data from 48 patients with Chiari malformation and syringomyelia were compiled. We calculated syrinx cross-sectional area by approximating an ellipse in the largest axial plane. We compared the percentage of reduction or enlargement following surgery. The percentage change was grouped into four grades: Grade 0 = Increasing size, grade I ≤ 50% reduction, grade II = 50% to 90% reduction, grade III ≥ 90% reduction. RESULTS: A total of 89.6% of patients had syrinx improvement after surgery. A total of 5 patients were grade 0, 14 were grade I, 20 patients were grade II, and 9 patients met criteria for grade III. The mean postoperative syrinx area was 24.1 mm2 (0-169 mm2) with a mean syrinx reduction of 62.7%. CONCLUSION: Radiological improvement of syringomyelia can be mathematically defined and standardized to assist in communication in outcome-based trials. Radiological resolution is expected most patients.

publication date

  • December 15, 2020

Research

keywords

  • Arnold-Chiari Malformation
  • Syringomyelia
  • Treatment Outcome

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85098531678

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/neuros/nyaa326

PubMed ID

  • 32779709

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 88

issue

  • 1