Based on the diagnosis and the likely cause of the syrinx, a neurological surgeon may recommend a procedure to normalize the cerebrospinal fluid flow around the craniocervical junction or within the spinal column. Treating the cause of the disruption in the flow of CSF will restore the flow to normal and help treat the syrinx.
In cases where there is no identifiable cause for the syrinx, the neurological surgeon will review the options with the patient and recommend a treatment plan.
Surgical options include:
- Suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation
- A lumbar laminectomy for release of a tethered cord
- A syringo-subarachnoid shunt to drain the cyst
It is important for patients to discuss the goal of surgery with their doctor. It may not be possible for the syrinx to be fully removed, so the goal of surgery may be to prevent further symptoms from developing, or to stop the progression of the syrinx.
Our Care Team
- Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs
- Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Associate Residency Director
- Victor and Tara Menezes Clinical Scholar in Neuroscience
- Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery in Pediatrics
- Vice Chairman, Neurological Surgery
- Director, Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Reviewed by Jeffrey Greenfield, Ph.D., M.D.
Last reviewed/last updated: April 2021