Progressive Scoliosis in a Patient presenting a Chiari Type II Malformation with Syringobulbia,Syringomyelia, and the Tethered Cord Syndrome : A Case Report

Abstract

Scoliosis is a late-onset skeletal complication of myelomeningocele. Herein, we discuss a case of progressive scoliosis that occurred 6 years after the correction of myelomeningocele in a patient who presented a Chiari type II malformation with syringobulbia, syringomyelia, and the tethered cord syndrome. While scoliosis can be caused by syringobulbia, syringomyelia, or the tethered spinal cord syndrome, in this case a single cause for the scoliosis Could not be identified. To decompress the craniocervical region, the syrlngobulbia was opened by C1 laminoplasty, after which the conus medullaris was untethered before the orthopedic correction of the scoliosis. For the surgical repair of such cases, we recommend the following order : the spinal cord should be given posterior fusion with instrumentation, followed by correction of the scoliosis.