Portland Personal Injury Lawyer - Traumatic Syringomyelia Lawyer
Syringomyelia is a condition that occurs when a cyst of cerebrospinal fluid (“CSF”) collects inside the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, gets bigger and longer over time, destroying part of the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is a delicate structure that serves as the “information highway” for the entire body, carrying sensory and motor messages from the brain the every muscle and end organ in the body. When pressure is put on the spinal cord it causes both pain and dysfunction throughout the body.
The spinal cord normally rests within the spinal canal inside the spinal vertebra, and is surrounded by a tough outer covering, called the Dura. Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the spinal cord and flows from the brain, down the spinal canal and back up to the brain. Normally, there is no CSF within the structure of the spinal cord. Instead, the CSF surrounds the outside of the spinal cord only. Many nerves originate from the spinal cord, and are responsible for movement and sensation of the arms, legs and torso.
Syringomyelia was first described by the famous French doctor and anatomist Antione Portal in 1803. Portal described a patient who experienced numbness and loss of function of the legs. An abnormal fluid filled cavity, called a syrinx (see-rin-x), was found in the spinal cord, when the patient’s autopsy was performed.
Syringomyelia is defined as an abnormal fluid cavity inside the spinal cord. The fluid cavity can be thought of something like a blister, and causes pressure from the inside of the spinal cord. The pressure disrupts the normal function of the nerves that travel in that area of the spinal cord and can cause an increasing “tear” in the spinal cord, spreading if it is not surgically removed. The increased tearing of the spinal cord from the inside causes increased symptoms, and in children can result in one arm or leg not growing normally, resulting in a short arm and small hand or a short leg and small foot in some cases.
Traumatic Syringomyelia Lawyers
If you or a loved one have sustained a traumatic syringomyelia, please contact DeShaw Trial Lawyers today. We handle traumatic syringomyelia injury cases in Oregon and Washington, and will put our extensive resources and experience to work for you. Our attorneys will work hard to obtain the compensation necessary for you and your family against the party responsible for your injuries. Contact us for a free consultation at (503) 227-1233 to determine how you can receive compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and physical pain and change in your quality of life.
Causes of Syringomyelia:
The most common cause of syringomyelia is the Chiari malformation. However, not everyone who has Chiari malformation will have a syrinx, and similarly not everyone with Syringomyelia has a Chiari Malformation.
In cases where the Chiari Malformation and the Syringomyelia exist, the herniated tonsils of the cerebellum plug the Foramen Magnum - the outlet of CSF from the brain to the spinal canal. This increases the fluid pressure in the spinal cord and causes fluid to be driven into the spinal cord. The CSF pulsates with each pulse of the heart, therefore each pulsation forces fluid down the abnormal cavity within the spinal cord. As the condition damages more and more of the spinal cord, each heart beat can cause pain. Coughing, sneezing or straining can cause increased pressure within the syringomyelia damaging more of the spinal cord. The syrinx enlarges over time, and damages the delicate nerves that exit from the spinal cord.
Other than a Chiari Malformation (which can be traumatic in origin) the main cause of syringomyelia is an injury to the spinal cord, often from car accidents or trucking collisions. There are a small number of other causes, including spinal tumors, and Arachnoiditis although these are much less common.
DeShaw Trial Lawyers have experience handling litigation cases involving traumatic syringomyelia caused by trauma such as an auto accident or trucking collisions. To discuss your traumatic syringomyelia case with one of our lawyers, contact us for a free consultation at (503) 227-1233 to determine how you can receive compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and physical pain and change in your quality of life.
Testing for Traumatic Syringomyelia
MRI for Syringomyelia
The best method of diagnosing a traumatic syringomyelia is an MRI of the spine. The most common area for a syringomyelia to develop is in the cervical spine (neck), due to the serious whipping action of the spinal cord during a collision. The second most common in the thoracic spine, caused by shear from the distraction now known to exist with high force impacts.
x-Rays for Syringomyelia
As the syrinx grows in size, it may cause scoliosis (abnormal curve of the spine), which is best evaluated by special x-rays of the spine. But, x-Rays cannot visualize the spinal cord itself and therefore it cannot show the spinal cord damage.
Clinical Presentation of Syringomyelia
Much of the non-imaging diagnostic detection of syringomyelia is based upon the injured person’s symptoms (like many other conditions such as brain injuries.) But, there are some tell tale symptoms that many doctors will miss. The most obvious is a “winged Scapula” in which muscle wasting will allow the scapula to stick out from the rib cage. Less obvious is a left thoracic scoliosis, which is highly correlated with a syringomyelia. Dr. DeShaw was known during his time as a doctor in Europe for clinically diagnosing conditions, including syringomyelia, from minimal and often infrequently known clinical signs. He has used this knowledge to assist injured people in his role as a lawyer.
Traumatic Syringomyelia Lawyers
If you or a loved one have sustained a traumatic syringomyelia, please contact DeShaw Law Firm today. We handle traumatic syringomyelia injury cases in Oregon and Washington, and will put our extensive resources and experience to work for you. Our attorneys will work hard to obtain the compensation necessary for you and your family against the party responsible for your injuries. Contact us for a free consultation at (503) 227-1233 to determine how you can receive compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and physical pain and change in your quality of life.
Symptoms of Syringomyelia
Many of the symptoms of syringomyelia may be less serious at first, however symptoms can progress over a long period of time. Some people experience symptoms that occur suddenly, and some report symptoms starting after a minor injury.
Pain with Syringomyelia
Pain is one of the most common symptoms persons with syrinx may experience. People may complain of pain in the arm, hand or leg. Some people report a burning sensation around the ribs or in the neck or back. Often the pain is present for months to years before a proper diagnosis is made. Pain can also be described as dull and aching, or stabbing. Pain on one side of the body (unilateral) is more common than on both sides (bilateral).
Tingling and Numbness with Syringomyelia
Many persons report a tingling sensation in the arm, chest or back. Others report tingling or numbness in the leg or foot. As the damage to the spinal cord increases, some people will report burning pains as the spinal cord is torn. Some people will experience additional injuries, without realizing it, due to the onset of complete numbness. Others will not be able to feel pain or temperature
Weakness with Syringomyelia
Some people with syringomyelia will report weakness in the hand, arm, leg or foot. Weakness from syringomelia is progressive over time, and some people with the condition will notice themselves become “clumsy” with their fine motor movements. Over time, some persons can develop muscle wasting or “atrophy” of the arms or legs. Weakness of the legs may cause problems with walking (“ataxia”), and some report frequent falling, resulting in ongoing serious injuries. Over time, syringomyelia can cause the loss of ability to use the arms or legs.
Prognosis with Syringomyelia
Without treatment, syringomyelia gets worse very slowly. Over time it will cause severe disability.
Surgery usually stops the condition from getting worse.
Treatment for Syringomyelia
The best treatment for syringomyelia is to remove the block to normal spinal fluid flow if there is one. In patients with syringomyelia caused by a Chiari Malformation, the goal is to create more room at the foramen magnum through a surgery called a posterior fossa decompression. For many, the improved spinal fluid flow will result in the syrinx slowly decreasing in size, although it may not disappear completely. The important point is to keep the syrinx from growing and allow it to empty and decrease in size so that the spinal cord does not continue to tear.
When syringomyelia is due to a traumatic spinal injury, release of the scar tissue compression around the spinal cord can result in a decrease in the size of the syrinx.
If the syrinx is small and the symptoms are under control, observation and follow-up MRI scans may be the best option.
Traumatic Syringomyelia Lawyers
If you or a loved one have sustained a traumatic syringomyelia, please contact DeShaw Law Firm today. We handle traumatic syringomyelia injury cases in Oregon and Washington, and will put our extensive resources and experience to work for you. Our attorneys will work hard to obtain the compensation necessary for you and your family against the party responsible for your injuries. Contact us for a free consultation at (503) 227-1233 to determine how you can receive compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and physical pain and change in your quality of life.