Syringomyelia (SIR-RIN-GO-MY-EE- LIA) is a disease that causes pockets of CSF to form in the spinal canal. These pockets can get bigger and cause obstruction to the flow of CSF fluid and eventually permanent damage to the spine and eventually paralysis if left untreated. Auggie's syringomyelia is caused by an obstruction in his brain. His cerebellum droops down in his brain stem and there is very little CSF flow around the bottom of his brain. Decompression surgery can help restore this flow by makning more room in the back of his brain. In his case, the two top vertebrae were removed, part of the back of his skull was shaved off and his cerebellum was shrunk using electrocauterization, The third image shows a rounded cerebellum after it was shrunk and a much smaller syrinx.
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| Before surgery, the syrinx (the white fluid-filled pocket in the spinal cord) is about 110 mm long. |
3 months post-op the syrinx is 55 mm long and 12 mm wide
9 months post-op the syrinx is only 45 mm long and 8 mm wide.
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