Syringobulbia - Prolonged survival

Summary A patient, suffering from syringomyelia for 34 years and syringobulbia for 27 years, has been under our care for the past 10 years. The symptoms and neurological signs were typical, both developed or rapidly became worse after a minor injury. On three occasions the patient was almost completely disable because of sensory and motor dysfunctions; and, without exceptions, his misery was relieved by surgical drainage of the syrinx.Branch of Surgical Neurology, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014.