Authors' recommendations: No literature on treatment that used the terminology “hydromyelia” was retrieved. When the literature was expanded to include syringomyelia, two case reports were found that focused on non-surgical treatment of syingomyelia. Both case reports used chiropractic care, in addition to other treatments, and found improvement in pain. It is important to note that because of the study design and multiple interventions, it is not possible to draw a conclusion about the cause and effect of manipulation therapy and therapeutic benefit. In addition, these findings may not be generalizable to a syrinx in the fourth ventricle, as would be seen in hydromyelia. Furthermore, no rigorous evidence was identified to support any non-surgical treatment of hydromyelia.Because of the limited evidence identified, it is difficult to draw conclusions about non-surgically treating patients with hydromyelia. However, it should be noted that an absence of evidence does not imply an absence of effect.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/L0074%20Treatment%20of%20Hydromyelia%20in%20Adults%20final.pdf

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)