CUTANEOUS AMPUTATION OF THE TERMINAL PHALANGES IN SYRINGOMYELIA

We describe a 30-year-old woman with syringomyelia, who developed recu rrent painless whitlows of the left hand that led to amputation of the terminal phalanx of the 4th finger and considerable shortening of the terminal phalanges of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th fingers. A roentgenog ram of the left hand showed a complete resorption of the terminal phal anges of the 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers and partial resorption of the te rminal phalanx of the 2nd finger. Although the defective sensory funct ion undoubtedly contributes to the development of bone resorption by f acilitating mechanical repetitive injuries and infections, impaired va somotor function possibly plays an equally important role.