Spinal arachnoiditis and syringomyelia: Review of literature with emphasis on postinfectious inflammation and treatment

BACKGROUND: Arachnoiditis refers to chronic inflammation of the arachnoid mater and subarachnoid space due to three major etiologies: chemical, mechanical, and postinfectious. As a rare disease with variable symptomatology and severity at presentation, arachnoiditis can be extremely debilitating with many complications, prominent among which is syringomyelia. METHODS: We reviewed current literature concerning postinfectious spinal arachnoiditis and associated syringomyelia with emphasis on the treatment options that have been used to date and discuss their respective benefits and drawbacks. RESULTS: It is critical to understand the natural history and potential complications of patient with postinfectious arachnoiditis. Surgical and medical treatments both have their own merits and demerits. Different surgical approaches have been employed with variable success rates. CONCLUSION: At present, no consensus exists regarding management of these patients due to the variable nature of the disease that affects treatment efficacy; however, surgical intervention in selected cases may be beneficial.