Summary of background data: The authors report a 46-year-old female patient who was referred to this unit for assessment of chronic postsurgical back pain. She reported severe burning pain in the lumbar region accompanied by burning pain and loss of sensation in the lower limbs. She had previously undergone lumbar spinal surgery on three occasions preceded by myelography.
Methods: Examination revealed generalized weakness and hypertonicity of both lower limbs with loss of all sensory modalities below D7.
Results: The MRI scanning of the thoracic spine showed an extensive complex syrinx within the thoracic cord.
Conclusions: She underwent syringopleural shunting, and her condition has remained stable.