Tension hydrothorax complicating syringopleural shunt for post-traumatic syringomyelia

Syringomyelia is a rare phenomenon that is typically associated with Chiari malformations. However, they can occur in the setting of post-traumatic spinal injury. Potential diversion treatments include syringopleural (SPS), syringoperitoneal and syringosubarachnoid shunts. Short-term complications have been reported in the literature, however, long term complications are not well documented. This case report is of a 43-year-old woman found deceased in bed. She had a history of a traumatic spinal injury following a motor vehicle accident 15 years prior to death. This was complicated by a syringomyelia/syrinx requiring a SPS insertion. Post-mortem imaging and autopsy findings demonstrated a large right tension hydrothorax with dense fibrosis of the pleural surfaces, contralateral diffuse alveolar damage lung changes histologically and a patent SPS. Her cause of death was registered as “Right tension hydrothorax and diffuse alveolar damage complicating right syringopleural shunt and thoracic syrinx”.