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Pulsatile intraspinal pressure drives post-traumatic syringomyelia: evidence supporting the CSF pulsatile pressure dynamic equilibrium hypothesis

delete2026-08-13
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OA
AI
C
Chenghua Yuan
F
Fan Yuan
C
Chao Chang
J
Jiachen Wang
Z
Zuowei Wang
X
Xingwen Wang
H
Hao Wu
Z
Zan Chen
F
Fengzeng Jian *
J
Jian Guan *
DOI:10.1186/s12987-026-00846-xdelete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Recent discoveries focused on the role of intraspinal pressure (ISP) in metabolite clearance after spinal cord injury (SCI) have initiated intense research on CSF inflow and outflow pathways. This study aimed to investigate whether the pulsatile ISP wave serves as the primary driver of posttraumatic syringomyelia (PTS) formation and progression, and to determine if a novel subarachnoid‑subarachnoid (S‑S) bypass procedure can effectively attenuate this abnormal pulsatile ISP wave in affected PTS patients. In this prospective cohort study of patients with PTS, ISP across the injury site was monitored intraoperatively both before and after placement of the S-S bypass tube. Neurological impairment was assessed using standardized scales at baseline, one year postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. A logistic regression model was used to analyze prognostic factors associated with surgical outcomes. All 64 enrolled patients underwent S-S bypass surgery; 54 (84.4%) had a history of incomplete SCI. After a mean follow-up of 23.6 months (range: 12–36 months), 46 patients (71.9%) showed neurological improvement. Multivariate logistic regression identified three independent predictors of positive recovery: an ISP gradient across the injury site (OR = 2.228, P = 0.036), ISP amplitude measured cranial to the injury site (OR = 4.269, P = 0.031) and a bypass tube spanning vertebral levels (OR = 0.331, P = 0.020). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined the optimal predictive cut-offs for these parameters. An ISP gradient > 1.5 mmHg showed a sensitivity of 93.48% and a specificity of 66.67%, ISP amplitude measured cranial to the injury site >3.5 mmHg yielded a sensitivity of 82.61% and a specificity of 94.44%, while a bypass spanning < 5.5 vertebral levels showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 44.44%. S-S bypass procedure can effectively reduce abnormal Pulsatile Pressure Wave in patients with PTS. This study demonstrates that an ISP gradient > 1.5 mmHg across the injury site, ISP amplitude >3.5 mmHg measured cranial to the injury site and a bypass conduit spanning < 5.5 vertebral levels are strong, independent predictors of neurological recovery after S-S bypass surgery for posttraumatic syringomyelia.
Keywords:
Posttraumatic syringomyelia
Spinal cord injury
Cerebrospinal fluid
Intraspinal pressure
Bypass
Hydrocephalus

Journal

Fluids and Barriers of the CNS cover
Fluids and Barriers of the CNS
IF:
6.2
Papers:
815
Citations:
4.1K

Organization

B
beijing tiantan hospital
Scholars:
367
Papers: 107
Citations: 0
X
xuanwu hospital
Scholars:
441
Papers: 104
Citations: 0