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Scoliosis associated with syringomyelia presenting in children

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Abstract

The clinical presentations and radiological features of scoliosis accompanying syringomyelia were analyzed in 14 cases of syringomyelia associated with a Chiari malformation in children. Scoliosis was the initial symptom in 11 out of 16 patients (64%) with syringomyelia and present in 14 (88%) at the initial examination. The scoliosis associated with syringomyelia was characterized by a higher incidence of a single curve (6 cases, 43%) and convexity to the left (7 cases, 50%) than seen in idiopathic scoliosis. The syrinx was shifted to the convex side of scoliosis on the axial section at the middle or lower thoracie level in patients with a single curve, and at the cervical or upper thoracic level in patients with a double curve. The authors think that the scoliosis develops in children as a result of damage done to the anterior horn, which innervates the muscles of the trunk, by an asymmetrically expanded syrinx.

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Isu, T., Chono, Y., Iwasaki, Y. et al. Scoliosis associated with syringomyelia presenting in children. Child's Nerv Syst 8, 97–100 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298449

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298449

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