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Syringomyelia

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Management and Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries

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Abstract

Syringomyelia is not a disease in itself, but a manifestation of other pathological processes, including obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation in the spinal canal, tethering of the spinal cord, or an intramedullary tumor. Syringomyelia is a disorder in which a cyst develops and expands in the spinal cord. The expanding syrinx insidiously damages the cord and causes paresthesia, pain, weakness, and stiffness of the trunk, shoulders, arms, or legs. Sweating, sexual function, and bladder and bowel control may also be disturbed. The disease is usually caused by a congenital abnormality of the craniocerebral junction, the Chiari I malformation. Syringomyelia can occur in patients after spinal cord injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation Hospital, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea

    Hyun-Yoon Ko MD, PhD

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  1. Hyun-Yoon Ko MD, PhD
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Ko, HY. (2019). Syringomyelia. In: Management and Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7033-4_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7033-4_13

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