Syrinx drainage / myelotomy

What it is

Syrinx drainage with myelotomy involves making a small, carefully placed opening into the spinal cord (a myelotomy) to drain a syrinx directly. It is used in selected cases as part of syrinx treatment, often in conjunction with placing a shunt to keep the syrinx drained.

Understanding Syrinx drainage / myelotomy

When a syrinx needs to be drained directly — for example, when placing a syrinx shunt — the surgeon makes a small opening into the cord at a carefully chosen location (often where the cord is thinnest over the syrinx, to minimize damage) to access and drain the fluid. A shunt tube may then be placed to maintain ongoing drainage. Because the spinal cord is delicate, this procedure carries risks of affecting cord function, so the opening is made with great care and at a site chosen to limit injury. Myelotomy and syrinx drainage are reserved for selected cases, typically persistent syrinxes not resolved by decompression. Understanding syrinx drainage and myelotomy clarifies a direct approach to draining a syrinx and its careful, selective use.

Why it matters

Understanding syrinx drainage and myelotomy helps families see how a syrinx can be drained directly through a small, carefully placed opening in the cord — used selectively, with care given the delicacy of the spinal cord.