National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892

April 1996

ARACHNOIDITIS

Index:

• What is Arachnoiditis?
• Is there any treatment?
• What is the prognosis?
• What research is being done?
• Where can I find more information?

DESCRIPTION: Arachnoiditis is an inflammatory response of the arachnoid, one of three coverings, or meninges, that envelop the brain and spinal cord. It may result from infection, including syphilis and tubercular meningitis, or trauma (including that resulting from surgery, lumbar puncture, and spinal anesthesia). A diagnostic procedure, called a myelogram, which is performed in patients prior to spinal surgery may cause numbness, tingling, and a characteristic stinging and burning pain.

Return to Index

TREATMENT: The goal of treatment should be to return the patient to a functional role in society. Conservative therapy such as pain management is generally recommended. In those patients whose arachnoiditis is progressive, surgery to remove adhesions is only minimally effective because scar tissue continues to develop. Also, surgery exposes the already irritated spinal cord to additional trauma.

Return to Index

PROGNOSIS: There is no cure for arachnoiditis. For the majority of patients, arachnoiditis is a disabling disease causing intractable pain and neurological deficits. As the disease progresses, some symptoms may increase and become permanent. Few people with this disorder are able to continue working. In some cases, progressive paraplegia may occur.

Return to Index

RESEARCH: Within the NINDS research programs, arachnoiditis is addressed primarily through studies associated with pain research. NINDS vigorously pursues a research program seeking new treatments for pain and nerve damage with the ultimate goal of reversing debilitating conditions such as arachnoiditis. NINDS has notified research investigators that it is seeking grant applications both in basic and clinical pain research. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) may also be conducting research on pain.

Return to Index

These articles, available from a medical library, may provide more in-depth information on arachnoiditis:

Joynt, RJ (ed). Clinical Neurology Vol. 1, 233 (1989).

Delamarter, RB, Ross, JS, Masaryk, TJ, Modic, MT, and Bohlman, HH. "Diagnosis of Lumbar Arachnoiditis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging." Spine, 15:4; 304 (April 1990).

Guyer, DW, Wiltse, LL, Eskay, ML, and Guyer, BH. "The Long-Range Prognosis of Arachnoiditis." Spine, 14:12; 1332-1341 (December 1989).

Carroll, SE and Wiesel, SW. "Neurologic Complications of Lumbar Laminectomy." Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 284; 14-23 (November 1992).

Dolan, RA. "Spinal Adhesive Arachnoiditis." Surgical Neurology, 39; 479-484 (1993).

Return to Index

Information may also be available from the following organizations:

American Chronic Pain Association

P.O. Box 850

Rocklin, CA 95677

(916) 632-0922

Back Pain Association of America

P.O. Box 135

Pasadena, MD 21223

(410) 255-3633

National Chronic Pain Outreach Association

7979 Old Georgetown Road

Suite 100

Bethesda, MD 20814-2429

(301) 652-4948

National Institute of Arthritis and

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Building 31, Room 4C05

Bethesda, MD 20892-2350

(301) 496-8188

National Institute of Dental Research

Building 31, Room 3C35

Bethesda, MD 20892-2290

(301) 496-4261

Return to Index or NINDS Publications Page

Last Updated: May 13, 1997.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892