Abstract
Syringomyelia is a centromedullary syndrome that can be treated conservatively or
with various neurosurgical procedures. We hypothesized that different clinical subgroups
of patients exist, which would necessitate the need for individualised neurosurgical
intervention and maintenance to achieve optimal quality of life (QoL). Using both
the short-form 36-item (SF-36) questionnaire and the Syringomyelia Disability Index,
clinical and QoL data was prospectively assessed in 142 patients with syringomyelia.
Cluster analysis was then performed on the subscale results of the SF-36. The SF-36
scores of those with syringomyelia were significantly lower than those of the general
German population, as well as when compared to those patients suffering from other
chronic diseases. The SF-36 scores were independent of the syringomyelia patients’
underlying syrinx pathology. Cluster analysis of the QoL patterns revealed four indicative
patient groups. Syringomyelia is a chronic, progressive disease, and the syrinx itself
appears to be the source of the symptoms, rather than the underlying pathology. The
identified QoL subgroups in syringomyelia patients indicate the necessity of appropriate
diagnosis and treatment of the pathology so that expansion of the syrinx cavity is
reduced, maintaining QoL and functionality of these patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 27,
2009
Received:
February 18,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
