Official Step 1 HY Neurology Concepts & Discussion Thread

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Could someone explain to me the motor deficits that arise with Syringomyelia? I understand the bilateral loss of pain and temperature but in Uworld it also states there can be upper extremity LMN deficits and lower extremity UMN deficits- that completely went over my head.
thanks!
 
Could someone explain to me the motor deficits that arise with Syringomyelia? I understand the bilateral loss of pain and temperature but in Uworld it also states there can be upper extremity LMN deficits and lower extremity UMN deficits- that completely went over my head.
thanks!

Imagine the central canal getting bigger and bigger. Anterior commissure gets knocked out first causing the pain/temp problems you mentioned. If it keeps getting bigger, it's going push on the ventral horns bilaterally damaging the alpha motor neurons there (LMN symptoms at that spinal level). If it keeps getting bigger, it will start to push on the LCST which would cause UMN to the limbs below the lesion.
 
Imagine the central canal getting bigger and bigger. Anterior commissure gets knocked out first causing the pain/temp problems you mentioned. If it keeps getting bigger, it's going push on the ventral horns bilaterally damaging the alpha motor neurons there (LMN symptoms at that spinal level). If it keeps getting bigger, it will start to push on the LCST which would cause UMN to the limbs below the lesion.

Ohhhhh that makes so much sense! Thank you very much! 🙂
 
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