Causes Of Horner Syndrome

Syringomyelia

Horner syndrome is a complication of syringomyelia, which is where the spinal cord is affected by a fluid-infused cavity called a syrinx. A syrinx may be caused by trauma or other spine-related conditions, such as meningitis and arachnoiditis. As the syrinx grows in size, it can damage the spinal cord, thus causing devastation to the neurons. In a 2002 case report, it is revealed Horner syndrome symptoms in a seventy-six-year-old female patient may have been due to an expanding syrinx.

Another case report suggests an extending syrinx in the C5-C7 region was the cause of Horner syndrome in a sixteen-year-old male patient. In another case report from 2010, an infant presented with anisocoria, ptosis, and weakened upper limb muscles along with a growing syrinx in the CT-T2 region. In addition, imaging showed damage to the brachial plexus, a series of nerves affecting areas between the neck and hands. It was concluded the abnormalities were due to the development of the syrinx.