One of the causes of syringomyelia is arachnopathy following an infectious or non-infectious inflammation of the arachnoid membrane. It is extremely rare that adhesive arachnoiditis develops within the occipital cistern and impairs cerebrospinal fluid flow from the foramen of Magendie, along posterior cerebellar surface and into spinal subarachnoid space. These process result syringomyelia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate postoperative outcomes in patients with syringomyelia following arachnopathy at the craniovertebral level.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis included 27 patients with syringomyelia and arachnopathy within the occipital cistern for the period from 2013 to 2018. Eight patients (29.6%) underwent primary surgery. In this group, 2 patients had arachnopathy following post-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, 1 — after non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in posterior cranial fossa, 2 — after bacterial meningitis, 3 — the cause was unclear. Nineteenth patients underwent redo surgery after previous procedures on posterior cranial fossa (tumor resection — 3 patients, suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation — 16 cases). High-resolution MRI with special protocols for analysis of CSF circulation and mobility of brain structures was used to diagnose arachnopathy (phase contrast ECG-synchronized MRI, TrueFISP).

RESULTS

Surgeries were aimed at mobilization of cerebellar tonsils and spinal cord and restoration of CSF circulation at the craniovertebral level. One year later, 13 (48.1%) patients noted improvement in their condition, 8 (29.6%) patients — clinical stabilization. In most cases, stabilization or improvement of sensory and coordination disorders. Syringomyelia symptoms progressed in 6 (22.2%) patients. Mean preoperative mJOA score was 11.86±1.24, in a year after surgery — 14.17±1.19. According to MRI data after 1 year, syringomyelia disappeared in 2 patients (7.4%), reduced in 13 (48.1%) cases, remained the same in 9 (33.3%) cases and deteriorated in 3 (11.1%) patients. Vaquero index reduced from 45.5% to 21.6 within a year after surgery. Early postoperative complications occurred in 3 (11.1%) patients: 1 (3.7%) had hydrocephalus and 2 (7.4%) had aseptic meningitis.

CONCLUSION

Modern diagnostic and surgical methods for syringomyelia ensure favorable outcomes in 77.7% of cases.