Pathophysiology of "tethered cord syndrome"

Rare Cause of Acute Tetraplegia and Respiratory Arrest: Cervicomedullary Neuroenteric Cyst in a Child: Case Report

Background:

Neuroenteric cysts (NCs) are benign, rare congenital lesions which are most commonly found in the lower cervical and upper thoracic segments. Even though these are benign lesions, it may present with fatal neurologic deterioration particularly in pediatric patients.

Case Report:

We here report a 16-year-old boy who has unique manifestation with acute tetraplegia and respiratory arrest in emergency room. According to English literature, this is the first case of cervicomedullary intradural neuroenteric cyst which causes acute tetraplegia and respiratory arrest in a child.

Conclusion:

The NCs can be manifested with unpredictable, life threating clinical presentation. The exact pathophysiology of an acute neurological deterioration is still unclear, however prolonged latent period with minor symptom should be considered carefully in child population.

Conus Medullaris Levels on Ultrasonography in Term Newborns : Normal Levels and Dermatological Findings

Objective

Ultrasonography (US) is the most non-invasive, safe, and, especially in the period of infancy, best method for visualizing and examining the spinal cord. Furthermore, US is the primary work-up for development of the spinal canal, and for follow-up on issues relating to subcutaneous tissues, bone development, and the spinal cord. Conus medullaris terminates at the second lumbar vertebra, according to a consensus in the literature.

Methods

Healthy children under the age of 6 months who were admitted to the radiology clinic for routine USG follow-ups between the dates of March 2012 to December 2014 were included in this study.

Results

Our study includes data from 1125 lumbosacral ultrasounds. The terminal point of the conus level of the attended infants, superior, middle part, inferior of the vertebrae L1, L2, and L3. Furthermore, the termination of the discal distance ratio did not differ significantly between genders.

Conclusion

Therefore, according to our results, gender is not an influencing factor in the termination of the spinal cord. Based on the study we performed, as well as the previous literature, in infants without a recognized spinal pathology, the spinal cord is detected below the vertebra L3.

Caudal cell mass developmental aberrations: an imaging approach

The objective of this review is to describe antenatal and postnatal imaging criteria, which allow diagnosis and aid workup, prognostication and treatment of developmental anomalies of the caudal cell mass. The lower spinal cord (conus medullaris), filum terminale and inferior lumbar and sacral nerve roots develop from the caudal cell mass, a remnant of the embryologic primitive streak composed of undifferentiated pluripotential cells. Anomalous caudal cell mass development can manifest as tight filum terminale, caudal dysgenesis, terminal myelocystocele, anterior sacral meningocele or sacrococcygeal teratoma. Lower spinal cord development occurs simultaneously and in topological proximity to the developing lower gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, leading to coexistent malformations. We review the embryology of the caudal cell mass, describe the role of antenatal and postnatal imaging for diagnosing, staging, prognosticating and guiding intranatal or postnatal intervention for developmental anomalies of this region and briefly discuss clinical manifestations and treatment goals and strategies. An overview of antenatal imaging diagnosis of associated multisystem abnormalities will be provided where applicable.

Fatty filum terminale (FFT) as a secondary tethering element in children with closed spinal dysraphism

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of FFT as an additional tethering element in children operated for closed spinal dysraphism, where FFT was not the primary tethering pathology.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of 195 children (< 18 years of age) who underwent surgery for closed spinal dysraphism and did not have FFT as the primary diagnosis. All patients were operated during the period 2005-2017 by a single surgeon. The commonest diagnosis was a lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC, n = 81, 41.5%), followed by split cord malformations (SCM, types I and II, n = 61, 31.3%), dermal sinus (n = 28, 14.4%), and dermoid cyst (n = 10, 5.1%). Factors such as age and sex, presenting symptoms, intraoperative findings, and radiological presence of a FFT on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were documented, and the relationship between the primary diagnoses and presence of FFT was analyzed.

RESULTS

FFT as a secondary finding was seen in 63 patients (32.3%). The mean age of the cohort was 54 months (4.5 years) and the sex distribution was relatively even (51.8% girls). The commonest symptom at presentation was a swelling in the back, followed by lower limb weakness. The mean duration of symptoms was nearly 30 months. FFT was seen on the MRI and confirmed intraoperatively in 55 patients (28.2%). There were 8 patients (4.1%) where a FFT was seen intraoperatively, but was not diagnosed on the preoperative MRI. In 16 patients, FFT was seen > 2 segments away from the primary tethering pathology, 8 of which mandated a second skin incision for sectioning of the FFT. Secondary FFT was most commonly associated with a SCM (types I and II combined) and was seen in 42.6% of those patients. It was least commonly associated with intradural dermoid cysts.

CONCLUSION

The presence of a secondary FFT should be considered and actively sought on preoperative thin-slice T1W axial MR images in the sacral region in all patients with spinal dysraphism. Even if a FFT is not seen on preoperative MR images, the filum should be explored and sectioned if it is in the vicinity of the primary surgical field, especially in patients with SCM.

Adult Versus Pediatric Tethered Cord Syndrome: Clinicoradiological Differences and its Management

Background

Dysraphic lesions in adults, presenting clinically as tethered cord syndrome (TCS), are relatively rare, and their optimal management remains controversial.

Patients and Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of our pediatric database over a period of last 7 years to focus on the adult TCS. Our aim was to determine the clinicoradiological and etiopathological differences between adult and pediatric patients as well as to determine the results of surgery in adult TCS.

Results

Adult spinal dysraphisms constituted 15.4% of our patients (20 out of 130). Motor weakness, sphincteric dysfunction, and backache (n = 13, 65.0% each) predominated in adults unlike children who presented with subcutaneous swellings (n = 74, 67.6%) followed by motor weakness (n = 40, 46.4%), backache being reported by only three patients. The different pathologic substrates underlying adult dysraphisms were lipomeningocele (n = 8), split cord malformation (total = 7; Type 1: n = 5; Type 2: n = 2), dermal sinus (n = 2), and fatty filum (n = 3). On the other hand, meningomyelocele/meningocele (61, 54.9%) followed by split cord malformation Type 1 and 2 (n = 29, 26.1%) predominated in children. The radiological differences between the two groups were a higher incidence of vertebral body defects (hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae) and lack of intracranial anomalies in adults. At a mean follow-up of 20.5 months, the most common symptoms to improve following detethering were pain (11 out of 13, 84.6%) followed by motor weakness (six out of 13, 56.2%) and sphincteric control (7 out of 13, 53.8%).

Conclusion

Most common symptoms to improve following detethering in adult TCS were pain followed by motor weakness. The major radiological differences between these two groups were a higher incidence of vertebral body defects (hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae) and lack of intracranial anomalies in adults.

Unusual Clinical Presentation and Association of Cranial Dermoid Tumor and Tethered Cord Syndrome

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS), a neurological disorder characterized by the lower settlement of the conus medullaris, is a congenital spinal disease which is caused by split cord syndrome, meningomyelocele, and spinal tumors. Cranial dermoid tumor (CDT) is a congenital benign tumor which is generally located on the midline of the cranium. Even though TCS is highly associated with spinal dermoid tumor, the relationship of CDT and TCS is unusual. We pre-sent a case with an unusual symptom of CDT, motion-dependent pain, and an uncommon togetherness with TCS.

[Intramedullary injection with tethered cord : Case report of a rare complication during spinal anesthesia]

Although very rare, severe neurological complications can occur when undergoing spinal anesthesia. This report describes and analyses a case of spinal injury due to an undiagnosed tethered cord (TC) during spinal anesthesia for a cesarean section of a 31-year-old woman expecting twins. As a consequence of spinal dysraphism during embryogenesis, an atypically low conus level can occur and increase the risk of injury during neuraxial anesthesia, especially in the absence of symptoms. Injuries can be caused by mechanical trauma from direct needle injury, hematoma or neurotoxicity from local anesthetics. Special attention should therefore be paid to frequent symptoms, such as a hairy nevus on the back, deformities of the feet or bladder and bowels, voiding and micturition dysfunction in order to reduce the risk of complications.

Spinal column shortening for tethered cord syndrome associated with myelomeningocele, lumbosacral lipoma, and lipomyelomeningocele in children and young adults

OBJECTIVE Tethered cord syndrome is the clinical manifestation of an abnormal stretch on the spinal cord, presumably causing mechanical injury, a compromised blood supply, and altered spinal cord metabolism. Tethered cord release is the standard treatment for tethered cord syndrome. However, direct untethering of the spinal cord carries potential risks, such as new neurological deficits from spinal cord injury, a CSF leak from opening the dura, and retethering of the spinal cord from normal scar formation after surgery. To avoid these risks, the authors applied spinal column shortening to children and transitional adults with primary and secondary tethered cord syndrome and report treatment outcomes. The authors' aim with this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of spinal column shortening for tethered cord syndrome by analyzing their experience with this surgical technique. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the demographic and procedural data of children and young adults who had undergone spinal column shortening for primary or secondary tethered cord syndrome. RESULTS Seven patients with tethered cord syndrome caused by myelomeningocele, lipomyelomeningocele, and transitional spinal lipoma were treated with spinal column shortening. One patient with less than 24 months of follow-up was excluded from further analysis. There were 3 males and 4 females; the average age at the time was surgery was 16 years (range 8-30 years). Clinical presentations for our patients included pain (in 5 patients), weakness (in 4 patients), and bowel/bladder dysfunction (in 4 patients). Spinal column osteotomy was most commonly performed at the L-1 level, with fusion between T-12 and L-2 using a pedicle screw-rod construct. Pedicle subtraction osteotomy was performed in 6 patients, and vertebral column resection was performed in 1 patient. The average follow-up period was 31 months (range 26-37 months). Computed tomography-based radiographic outcomes showed solid fusion and no instrumentation failure in all cases by the most recent follow-up. Five of 7 patients (71%) reported improvement in preoperative symptoms during the follow-up period. The mean differences in initial and most recent Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index scores were 0.26 and -13%, respectively; minimum clinically important difference in SRS-22 and ODI were assumed to be 0.4% and -12.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Spinal column shortening seems to represent a safe and efficacious alternative to traditional untethering of the spinal cord for tethered cord syndrome.

Klippel-Feil Syndrome Associated with Sacral Agenesis, Low Lying Cord, Lipomyelomeningocele and Split Cord Malformation Presenting with Tethered Cord Syndrome: Pentads Neural Tube Defects Spread along Whole Spinal Axis

Neural tube defects are congenital development anomaly of the central nervous system and usually have relatively more predilection to affect at anterior and posterior neuropore embryological development sites, so usually one or two defects are commonly encountered. However, occurrence of simultaneous multiple neural tube defects is very rare, presence of constellation of five neural defects is extremely rare, and all defects add up together to produce gross neurological deficit. We present an interesting case of a 23-year-old male who presented with history of lower backache and noticed wasting and weakness of lower limbs associated with difficulty in walking for the last 2 years but had no associated sphincter disturbances. He was operated for lumbosacral lipomeningocoele repair at the age of 1 year. He was asymptomatic, following the first surgical intervention. At the current admission, he underwent re-exploration of surgical wound with surgical repair although suffered mild-temporary neurological worsening in the immediate postoperative period. Imaging feature and management of such rare constellation of five embryological anomalies and its significance and brief literature are discussed.

Utility of the clivo-axial angle in assessing brainstem deformity: pilot study and literature review

There is growing recognition of the kyphotic clivo-axial angle (CXA) as an index of risk of brainstem deformity and craniocervical instability. This review of literature and prospective pilot study is the first to address the potential correlation between correction of the pathological CXA and postoperative clinical outcome. The CXA is a useful sentinel to alert the radiologist and surgeon to the possibility of brainstem deformity or instability. Ten adult subjects with ventral brainstem compression, radiographically manifest as a kyphotic CXA, underwent correction of deformity (normalization of the CXA) prior to fusion and occipito-cervical stabilization. The subjects were assessed preoperatively and at one, three, six, and twelve months after surgery, using established clinical metrics: the visual analog pain scale (VAS), American Spinal InjuryAssociation Impairment Scale (ASIA), Oswestry Neck Disability Index, SF 36, and Karnofsky Index. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were performed to correlate clinical outcome with CXA. No major complications were observed. Two patients showed pedicle screws adjacent to but not deforming the vertebral artery on post-operative CT scan. All clinical metrics showed statistically significant improvement. Mean CXA was normalized from 135.8° to 163.7°. Correction of abnormal CXA correlated with statistically significant clinical improvement in this cohort of patients. The study supports the thesis that the CXA maybe an important metric for predicting the risk of brainstem and upper spinal cord deformation. Further study is feasible and warranted.

Surgical treatments on adult tethered cord syndrome: A retrospective study

To investigate effects of surgical treatment on adult tethered cord syndrome (TCS).A retrospective analysis of 82 adult patients (17 male cases, 82% and 24 female cases, 59%) with TCS treated by surgery was conducted between March, 2005 and December, 2015, with an average age of 31.6 years and average disease course of 6.7 years. All the 82 cases of patients received nerve electrophysiology monitoring assisted microsurgery. After surgery, all patients were followed up for an average of 2.5 years. Surgical effects were evaluated according to Hoffman grading system. As this is just a retrospective study that does not involve any interventions, ethical approval was not necessary according to the rules of the hospital.All patients were followed up, no death occurred. According to Hoffman grading system, the neurologic symptoms were improved in 22 patients (27%), stabilized in 60 patients (73%). Of 10 cases with lipoma tethered spinal cord, corresponding symptoms were improved in 2 cases. Of 32 cases with tethered spinal cord caused by dermoid cyst and epidermoid cyst, the symptoms were improved in 6 cases. Of 40 cases without occupying lesions of tethered spinal cord, the symptoms were improved in 14 cases. Besides, there was no deteriorated case.Surgical treatment on adult patients with TCS can improve the neurologic deficits which are associated with the course of disease, early treatment has much better curative effect.

Intraspinal Pathology Associated With Pediatric Scoliosis: A Ten-year Review Analyzing the Effect of Neurosurgery on Scoliosis Curve Progression

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective study of patients with Chiari I (CM I) and Chiari II (CM II) malformations, tethered cord syndrome, and syringomyelia examining the effect of neurosurgery on scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting spinal deformity progression in patients with diseases of the neural axis following neurosurgical management.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

There have been attempts to explain which factors influence the spinal deformity in diseases of the neural axis with varying results. Debate still exists as to the effectiveness of neurosurgery in curve stabilization.

METHODS

The medical records for patients treated over the past 10 years were reviewed. The spinal deformity surgical group consisted of patients who received surgery or progressed to surgical range (50°) and the nonsurgical group those who did not undergo fusion.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (eight females and seven males) with scoliosis who underwent neurosurgical intervention were identified. Ten had tethered cord, six CM II, four CM I, and 11 syrinx. Average age at the time of neurosurgery was 7 ± 4 years (range 0.7-14 yrs). Following neurosurgery, no patients experienced improvement in their curves (defined as >10° decrease in Cobb angle), eight patients experienced stabilization (<10° decrease), and seven experienced worsening (>10° increase). The group that went on to spinal deformity surgery possessed larger curves before neurosurgery (mean 42°, range 20°-63°) than the nonsurgical group (19°, range 15°-26°; P = 0.004). CM II patients had the greatest magnitude of curve progression, mean of 49°, compared with patients with CM I (6°) or tether cord without CM I or II (11°, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Neurosurgical intervention may prevent curve progression in patients with scoliosis and Cobb angles < 30° if they do not have a complex CM II malformation. Patients with CM II are at a higher risk of curve progression and undergoing spinal fusion than patients with CM I, tethered cord syndrome, or syringomyelia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Immediate and long-term outcome analysis of lipomeningomyelocele repair in asymptomatic infants in a tertiary care center

Objective:

To analyze immediate and long-term results of lipomeningomyelocele (LMM) repair in asymptomatic patients.

Materials and Methods:

Seventeen patients of LMM presented to Department of Paediatric Surgery over a period from 2011 to 2015 were evaluated preoperatively by magnetic resonance imaging of whole spine, and pre- and post-operative Ultrasound of kidney, ureter, bladder, and neurosonogram. Surgical procedure involved total excision of lipoma in 15 patients and near total excision in 2 patients. Division of filum terminale could be done in 15 out of 17 patients. Follow-up varied from 1 to 3.5 years (mean 1.9 years).

Results:

This study included 10 (58.8%) patients of lumbosacral LMM, 5 (29.4%) patients of sacral, and 2 (11.7%) patients of thoracolumbar LMM. About 13 (76.4%) patients were operated before 3 months of age, 2 (23.5%) patients were operated between 3 and 6 months, and two patients were operated between 6 and 11 months. None of the patients had bladder/bowel dysfunction preoperatively. Preoperative lower limb power was normal in all patients. Objective improvement in lower limb motor function was observed in 3 (17.6%) patients and three patients had decreased lower limb power. Two patients developed altered sensations and weakness of lower limb about 2.5-3 years after initial LMM repair. They needed repeat detethering of cord. Two patients had fecal pseudoincontinence, whereas one patient developed constipation. Bowel dysfunction was managed by rectal washouts, and oral laxatives were added if required. One (5.8%) patient of lumbosacral LMM and 1 (5.8%) patient of sacral LMM had urinary incontinence postoperatively. This was managed by clean intermittent catheterization with continuous overnight drainage. Conservative management of bladder and bowel dysfunction was effective in all patients till the last follow-up. Two patients developed hydrocephalus after LMM repair for which low-pressure ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted. Wound infection occurred in 1 (5.8%) patient, whereas 7 (41.1%) patients developed seroma in wound which responded to repeated aspirations under aseptic precautions.

Conclusion:

With total excision of lipoma and division of filum terminale satisfactory outcome for asymptomatic patients of LMM can be achieved. Authors recommend early surgery for LMM even in asymptomatic patients. Patients with residual lipoma and undivided filum terminale should be observed closely for the development of progressive neurological changes.

Neuromuscular Strain Increases Symptom Intensity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex, multisystem disorder that can be disabling. CFS symptoms can be provoked by increased physical or cognitive activity, and by orthostatic stress. In preliminary work, we noted that CFS symptoms also could be provoked by application of longitudinal neural and soft tissue strain to the limbs and spine of affected individuals. In this study we measured the responses to a straight leg raise neuromuscular strain maneuver in individuals with CFS and healthy controls. We randomly assigned 60 individuals with CFS and 20 healthy controls to either a 15 minute period of passive supine straight leg raise (true neuromuscular strain) or a sham straight leg raise. The primary outcome measure was the symptom intensity difference between the scores during and 24 hours after the study maneuver compared to baseline. Fatigue, body pain, lightheadedness, concentration difficulties, and headache scores were measured individually on a 0-10 scale, and summed to create a composite symptom score. Compared to individuals with CFS in the sham strain group, those with CFS in the true strain group reported significantly increased body pain (P = 0.04) and concentration difficulties (P = 0.02) as well as increased composite symptom scores (all P = 0.03) during the maneuver. After 24 hours, the symptom intensity differences were significantly greater for the CFS true strain group for the individual symptom of lightheadedness (P = 0.001) and for the composite symptom score (P = 0.005). During and 24 hours after the exposure to the true strain maneuver, those with CFS had significantly higher individual and composite symptom intensity changes compared to the healthy controls. We conclude that a longitudinal strain applied to the nerves and soft tissues of the lower limb is capable of increasing symptom intensity in individuals with CFS for up to 24 hours. These findings support our preliminary observations that increased mechanical sensitivity may be a contributor to the provocation of symptoms in this disorder.

History of the current understanding and management of tethered spinal cord

An understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) and modern management strategies have only developed within the past few decades. Current understanding of this entity first began with the understanding and management of spina bifida; this later led to the gradual recognition of spina bifida occulta and the symptoms associated with tethering of the filum terminale. In the 17th century, Dutch anatomists provided the first descriptions and initiated surgical management efforts for spina bifida. In the 19th century, the term “spina bifida occulta” was coined and various presentations of spinal dysraphism were appreciated. The association of urinary, cutaneous, and skeletal abnormalities with spinal dysraphism was recognized in the 20th century. Early in the 20th century, some physicians began to suspect that traction on the conus medullaris caused myelodysplasia-related symptoms and that prophylactic surgical management could prevent the occurrence of clinical manifestations. It was not, however, until later in the 20th century that the term “tethered spinal cord” and the modern management of TCS were introduced. This gradual advancement in understanding at a time before the development of modern imaging modalities illustrates how, over the centuries, anatomists, pathologists, neurologists, and surgeons used clinical examination, a high level of suspicion, and interest in the subtle and overt clinical appearances of spinal dysraphism and TCS to advance understanding of pathophysiology, clinical appearance, and treatment of this entity. With the availability of modern imaging, spinal dysraphism can now be diagnosed and treated as early as the intrauterine stage.

Fully Endoscopic Interlaminar Detethering of Spinal Cord in Tethered Cord Syndrome: A Case Report and Technical Description

A 19-year-old man presented with long lasting significant back and bilateral leg pain, and hypoesthesia on the lateral side of both his thighs for which he had undergone several courses of medication and bouts of physical therapy treatment. His urodynamic parameters were normal and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a low-lying conus at the L2-3 level with a thickened fatty filum, and he was diagnosed as having tethered cord syndrome (TCS). The patient underwent a fully endoscopic detethering through an interlaminar approach with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. The thickened filum terminale was located and then the filum was coagulated and cut. The patient showed a significant improvement in his preoperative symptoms, and reported no problems at 2-year follow-up. Detethering of the spinal cord in tethered cord syndrome using a fully endoscopic interlaminar approach provides the advantages of minimal damage to tissues, less postoperative discomfort, early postoperative recovery, and a shorter hospitalization.

A new model of tethered cord syndrome produced by slow traction

The development of a suitable animal model is important for clarifying the pathogenesis of tethered cord syndrome (TCS). This study was undertaken to develop a new animal model for investigating the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for TCS. A traction device, a filum terminale tractor, was designed exclusively for this experiment. A TCS model was produced in cats using the tractor to fixate the filum terminale to the dorsal aspect of the second sacrum. The responses to tethering were evaluated by electron microscopy and electromyography for detection of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) at designated time points. Progressive swaying gait and lameness in clinical performance were observed with cord traction. Histopathological examination revealed an association between the increasing traction in the spinal cord and the increase in impaired nerve cells. No changes of SEPs and MEPs were detected in the untethered cats, while the latencies of SEPs and MEPs significantly increased in the tethered cats. The TCS model established in this study is simple and reproducible, in which varying degrees of tension could be applied to the neural elements.

Cutting filum terminale is very important in split cord malformation cases to achieve total release

AIM

Split cord malformations (SCMs) are rare congenital anomalies of the vertebrae and the spinal cord. Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a clinical condition of various origins that arises from tension on the spinal cord. Radiographic findings may include and/or associate split cord malformations and the other neural tube defects. However, the spinal cord can even be tethered by a filum terminale with normal appearance and normal level conus medullaris in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of our study is to show whether SMC patients with normal or abnormal MRI findings had all histological abnormal filum terminale and also to show that the standard SCM repairing operation without cutting filum will not achieve total release.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have reviewed 33 SCM patients between July 2005 and December 2013. They were operated by adding untethering procedure of filum terminale following standard surgical intervention, and a part of the filum was taken for histopathological examination even though MRI did not show the presence of abnormality of filum terminale.

RESULTS

We found that abnormal filum terminale with a normal appearance may had dense collagen fibers, wide and numerous capillaries, and hyaline formation, while normal filum terminale is a mixture of collagen fibers and blood vessels. We did not obtain positive Verhoeff elastic fiber staining. The elastic fibers had disappeared in all fila terminalia, except control cadaver group.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that all fila of SCM patients had loss of elastic fibers and increased of hyalinization, which means loss of elasticity of filum terminale. Less severe traction may remain asymptomatic in childhood and present with neurological dysfunction later in life. For this reason, surgical procedure of SCM patients including releasing of filum terminale seems more beneficial for the patients and be better for long term.

Congenital meningocoele presenting in an adult

A 53-year-old male patient presented with low back pain radiating to both lower limbs for 2 years and urinary incontinence for 2 months. He had swelled over his lower back since birth. The neurological examination revealed a decreased perianal sensation. Local examination of the lumbar swelling showed a brilliantly transilluminant, cystic midline swelling in the lumbar area with underlying spina bifida. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a low-lying conus at L3 level associated with spina bifida at L5 and a meningocoele sac. The patient underwent excision of the meningocoele and detethering of cord by extirpation of hypertrophied filum terminale. The patient had an immediate relief of his symptoms. At 3 month follow-up the lumbar wound had healed well, and there was a significant improvement in the perianal hypoesthesia. The adult presentation of a congenital meningocoele and spinal dysraphism is rare, especially in the fifth decade. The possible causes of this delayed presentation are analyzed, and the relevant literature on the subject is presented.

Reduction of caudal traction force using dural sac opening rather than spinal cord detethering for tethered cord syndrome caused by lipomyelomeningocele: a case report

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

A few reports have addressed tethered cord syndrome. Detethering surgery has been performed in these cases because abnormal tension on the spinal cord causes neurologic and urologic symptoms.

PURPOSE

To discuss the surgical treatment of tethered cord syndrome with the belief that the tension on the cord can be decreased by shifting tethered cord to the dorsal side.

STUDY DESIGN

A patient with tethered cord syndrome was surgically treated by shifting the tethered cord to the dorsal side by harnessing the lumbar lordosis instead of detethering.

METHODS

We performed surgery to shift the tethered cord to the dorsal side by harnessing the lumbar lordosis to decrease the tension on the spinal cord.

RESULTS

The tethered cord that was pressed to the ventral side because of a lipoma was shifted dorsally by laminectomy and opening of the dural sac. Pain and numbness were alleviated immediately after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The method used in the present case, that is, shifting the tethered cord and lipoma to the dorsal side by harnessing the lumbar lordosis instead of detethering, is a viable treatment option for tethered cord syndrome.

Tethered cord due to caudal lipomeningocele associated with a lumbar dural arteriovenous fistula

A 29-year-old man presented with progressive paraparesis associated with sensory impairment in both lower limbs for the past 2 years. He was experiencing the sensation of incomplete urinary evacuation. The patient had undergone an earlier operation for a lumbar lipomeningocele at birth. Magnetic resonance images of the lumbosacral spine showed a low-lying conus medullaris adherent to a caudal lipoma. There was a leash of abnormal vascular channels in the adjacent subarachnoid space. The patient underwent spinal angiography that revealed a dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) principally fed by the left fourth lumbar (L-4) radicular branch. At surgery the cord was detethered by disconnection of the sacral lipoma. The dural fistula was obliterated by occlusion of the L-4 radicular feeder close to the nidus of the fistula. Postoperatively, the patient experienced an immediate relief of sensation of tightness in both lower limbs. There was a gradual improvement of power and sensation at the 6-month follow-up examination. According to the authors' literature search, the present case is a unique report of a rare association of spinal cord tethering due to a caudal lipoma associated with a lumbar dural AVF. The present report discusses the etiopathology, presentation, and management of this case.

Histological structure of filum terminale in human fetuses

OBJECT

The structure of the filum terminale (FT) is important in the development of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in children. Although many studies have been performed on the histological structure of the FT in adults, there has been no detailed investigation for those of fetuses. The aim of this study was to examine the histological structure of the FT in normal human fetuses and to compare the results with those of previous studies.

METHODS

The histological examination of the FT was performed in 15 normal human fetuses; 11 of them were female and 4 were male. The gestational age of the fetuses ranged between 14 weeks and 35 weeks, and they weighed between 180 g and 1750 g. The FT of each fetus was cut and examined for adipose tissue, fibrous tissue, peripheral nerve, ganglion, ependymal cells, gliosis, elastic fibers, and collagen types (Types I and III).

RESULTS

Adipose tissue was observed in 2 specimens (13%), whereas fibrous tissue was found in 8 specimens. Peripheral nerve was detected in 11 (73%), ganglion in 6, ependymal cells in 5, and glial tissue in 7 FT samples. Type III collagen was present in 12 specimens (80%) with different concentrations, whereas Type I collagen and elastic fibers were not detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The normal structure of the FT in fetuses is different from its structure in adults. The FT has no elasticity during intrauterine life because of the lack of elastic fibers. More detailed studies are needed to understand the histological basis of TCS in children.

Improvement in intraoperative transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials in tethered cord surgery: an analysis of 45 cases

BACKGROUND

Improvement of transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials (TeMEPs) following untethering during tethered cord surgery (TCS) and its clinical significance have not been analyzed in the literature.

METHODS

Forty-five consecutive cases of tethered cord were operated on with multimodality intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) between February 2005 and January 2012. Intraoperative TeMEP change was classified as improvement, worsening or no change. Motor, sensory, bladder and bowel symptoms and signs were evaluated preoperatively, in the first week post-surgery and at the last follow-up (maximum of 2 years).

RESULTS

Patient age ranged from 5 to 44 years (mean, 16 ± 10 years), with 30 children. Intraoperative MEPs improved in 23 (51 %), remained the same in 21 (46.7 %) and worsened in 1 (2 %) patient. Motor improvement occurred in 7 patients and clinical improvement in 17 patients in the immediate postoperative period. Postoperative neurological worsening occurred in one patient (2.2 %). Improved and stable MEPs correlated with the motor (p = 0.002) and clinical improvement (p = 0.02) in the immediate postoperative period. Follow-up was available in 35 patients (77.7 %), ranging from 5 to 24 months (median, 21 months; mean, 17.7 ± 6.8 months). There was late clinical improvement in 73.5 % of the patients in whom the intraoperative MEP had remained the same or improved. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between MEP change and long-term outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative MEP improvement occurs in about 50 % of the patients following successful untethering. This finding probably provides support to the ischemic theory of tethered cord syndrome.

Clinical significance of imaging and histological characteristics of filum terminale in tethered cord syndrome

OBJECT

The pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is uncertain; however, it has been suggested that fibrous and fatty elements within the filum terminale (FT) play a role. The objective of this study was to describe the radiological and histological features of the FT in TCS and determine if there are associations between those features and clinical outcomes, complications, and urodynamics.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, histological, MRI, and clinical data obtained in 293 patients with TCS who underwent FT transection were reviewed and analyzed in a multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 4.9 years (range 0.3-64.3 years). On MRI, a fatty filum was present in 65% of patients and a thickened filum (> 2 mm) was seen in 45%. Histologically, the FT contained prominent fibrous tissue in 95%, nerve twigs in 79%, adipose tissue in 59%, and vascular tissue in 36%. Histological features associated with a thickened filum on MR images were adipose tissue (OR 3.5, p < 0.001), nerve twigs (OR 2.2, p = 0.028), and vascular tissue (OR 0.5, p = 0.025). Adipose tissue was associated with a conus level below the L2-3 disc space (OR 2.3, p = 0.031) and with a fatty filum on imaging (OR 9.8, p < 0.001). Nerve twigs were associated with abnormal urodynamics (OR 10.9, p = 0.049). The only variable predictive of clinical improvement was conus level; patients with conus levels caudal to L-2 were less likely to improve postoperatively (OR 0.3, p = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS

Fibrous tissue was ubiquitous and may be important in the pathophysiology of TCS. Nerve twigs and adipose tissue were associated with abnormal urodynamics and low-lying coni, respectively. Although the majority of patients clinically improved, patients with normal conus levels had significantly better outcomes.

Tethered cord syndrome: overview of diagnosis and treatment

This article covers the basis of tethered cord syndrome as a stretch-induced spinal cord disorder, including pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, imaging diagnosis, indication for surgical treatment, and surgical procedures. Anomalies that cause mechanical spinal cord tethering are listed, and the surgical untethering technique for each anomaly is described.

Pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome and other complex factors

There are different interpretations of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) partly due to difficulty in understanding the concept of this syndrome as a functional disorder not merely based on gross anatomy of congenital anomalies. The essential mechanical factor of cord tethering is that any of the inelastic structures fastening the caudal end of the spinal cord produces traction effects on the lumbosacral cord. The production of such traction is the key to understanding this disorder. In a significant number of patients who present with the typical clinical signs and symptoms of TCS, the diameter of the filum terminale is found within normal limits and the caudal end of the spinal cord is located in the normal position. Therefore, the definition of TCS requires the demonstration that there is a posterior displacement of the conus and filum by MRI, lack of viscoelasticity by the stretch test of the filum during surgery, and fibrous displacement of glial tissue within the filum by histological studies. This is because there is inconsistency from such studies as ultrasonography, MRI and CT myelography, which attempt to establish the presence of a tight filum terminale. A goal of this article is to provide basic understanding of TCS so that clinicians can use the concept of stretch-induced spinal cord dysfunction for proper diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.

Can the conus medullaris in normal position be tethered?

Many have equated the term tethered spinal cord to a conus that is pathologically elongated. Most authorities have declared radiologic coni located inferior to the L-2 as pathologic. However, we have described previously a small series of patients in whom symptoms of a tethered spinal cord were evident clinically yet radiologically the conus medullaris was found to lie at a widely acceptable normal anatomic site. Following a review of the extant literature prior to our publication in 1993, several authors had operated on patients for symptoms of a distally tethered spinal cord in whom a conus was found to terminate at a 'normal' vertebral level. We believe that there is indeed a subset of the tethered cord patient population in whom the tip of the conus lies at even liberally accepted normal levels. We would encourage clinicians treating patients with symptoms of tethered cord syndrome not to treat the patient based simply on imaging but imaging coupled with clinical symptoms and physical exam. It is important to point out that in lieu of the many publications of conus termination that one accepts that there is no one single 'normal' position of the terminal cord but rather a normal range. Perhaps a superior way of interpreting 'tethered' cord is to view this as tautness of the cord and not necessarily elongation of the distal cord in every case.

Spinal cord malformations

Malformations of the spinal cord are one of the most frequent malformations. They should be clearly divided into two completely different families of malformations: open dysraphisms and occult dysraphisms. Open dysraphism mostly consists in myelomeningocele (MMC). Its incidence is 1/1000 live births with a wide variation. Folic acid supplementation has been shown to reduce its risk. In most cases, the diagnosis is done prenatally by serum screening and ultrasound and may lead to termination of pregnancy. In case of decision to continue pregnancy, surgical treatment must be achieved during the first days of life, and in 50 to 90% of cases, a ventricular shunt must be installed. The follow-up of these children must be continued throughout life looking for late complications (Chiari II and syringomyelia, vertebral problems, neuropathic bladder, tethered cord). Occult dysraphisms are a heterogeneous group of malformations. Lipomas (filum and conus) are the most frequent and their treatment remains controversial. Diastematomyelia, neurenteric cysts, dermal sinus, and more complex forms (Currarino syndrome) belong to this group. Most of them can and must be diagnosed prenatally or at birth by careful examination of the lower back for the cutaneous stigmata of the disease to decrease the risk of neurological, urological, or orthopedic permanent handicap.

Dorsal thoracic spinal cord herniation: report of an unusual case and review of the literature

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Spinal cord herniation is a rare but well-documented condition that has been associated with tethering through the dural defect. Both spinal cord herniation and cord tethering result in progressive myelopathy that can be improved or stabilized with surgical intervention. Most cases of herniation are caused by dural defects in the ventral or ventrolateral thoracic spine, rarely occurring through the dorsal dura. This is the first reported case of a spontaneous dorsal herniation.

PURPOSE

To describe a unique case of thoracic tethered cord resulting from a dorsal dural defect through which there is spinal cord herniation.

STUDY DESIGN

A case report and review of the literature.

METHODS

A 55-year-old man presented with progressive low back pain, paresthesias, and weakness in his left lower extremity that was exacerbated by walking. Imaging revealed a dorsal dural defect with tethering and herniation of the spinal cord at T7.

RESULTS

The patient underwent a T6-T7 laminoplasty to release the tethered cord and repair the dural defect. At 1-year follow-up, the patient noted improvement in strength and back spasticity.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal cord herniation through a dural defect is an uncommon but important cause of symptomatic tethered cord in adults. Surgical intervention can significantly alter the course and prevent further disability.

Lipomyelomeningocele: pathology, treatment, and outcomes

Lipomyelomeningocele represents a rare but complex neurological disorder that may present with neurological deterioration secondary to an inherent tethered spinal cord. Radiological testing is beneficial in determining the morphology of the malformation. Specialized testing such as urodynamic studies and neurophysiological testing may be beneficial in assessing for neurological dysfunction secondary to the lipomyelomeningocele. Early surgical intervention may be beneficial in preventing further neurological decline.

Inappropriate surgical interventions for midline fusion defects cause secondary tethered cord symptoms: implications for natural history report of four cases

INTRODUCTION

The causes of tethered spinal cord are various. In order to release the tethering effect of these malformations, the surgical interventions must include removal of all tethering components, reconstruction of the neural tube and sectioning of tight filum terminale as well.

CASES

The cases reported in this paper have had an operation many years before for various developmental defects. After a certain period of time (5-10 years) of the first operation, the patients reapplied to the hospital with various symptoms of spinal cord tethering, either vertical or horizontal.

DISCUSSION

At surgical intervention, it was noted that inappropriate surgical procedures caused retethering of the spinal cord in all patients. Postoperative period of all patients were uneventful. All patients declared relief in their symptoms. We would like to draw attention that untreated (or inappropriately treated) midline developmental defects will invariably cause syndrome of tethered cord. Consequently, prophylactic surgical untethering must be applied to all patients with developmental midline defects as soon as possible.

CONCLUSION

It looks that tethered cord symptoms invariably appear as enough negative influence accumulates as the time passes. Elapsed time may vary but unpleasant end result invariably arrives. While these cases with tethered spinal cord develop progressive neurological symptoms, prophylactic and appropriate surgical intervention should be considered as early as possible. There is no acceptable rationale to wait for the appearance of tethered cord syndrome symptoms to perform surgical untethering of the spinal cord because of the probability of irreversibility of the symptoms (incontinence of urine in particular) of tethered spinal cord syndrome.

Clinical characteristics and surgical outcome in 25 cases of childhood tight filum syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Tight filum syndrome (TFS) is caused by a thick (abnormal T1 MRI), shortened (low-lying conus), or non-elastic filum (strictly normal MRI). We carefully analyzed children treated for suspect TFS with or without radiological abnormalities.

METHODS

Twenty-five children, operated between 2002 and 2009, were retrospectively identified. All children had been evaluated by a multidisciplinary team preoperatively. Symptoms, signs and diagnostic test results were categorized (neurologic, urologic, orthopedic, dermatologic) and compared pre- and one year postoperatively. Normal MR was defined as conus medullaris (CM) at or above mid-body L2 and filum diameter less than 2 mm. Occult TFS (OTFS) was defined as TFS with normal MR.

DEMOGRAPHICS

17 girls, 8 boys, age 2-18 years, including 11 syndromal children.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

all children had problems in the neurologic category and at least one other category: urologic (n = 17), orthopedic (n = 21), and dermatologic (n = 11). MR findings: low-lying CM (n = 14) including 2 with thick filum, normal CM but fatty filum (n = 2), strictly normal (n = 9). Clinical outcome one year postoperatively: neurologic 20 improved, 5 stabilized; urologic 13 improved, 3 stabilized, 1 worsened; orthopedic (8 children presenting with scoliosis) 3 improved, 4 stabilized, 1 worsened. All children with OTFS (n = 9) improved in at least one and 8 improved in all affected categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with strong clinical suspicion for TFS (≥ 2 affected categories) with or without abnormal MR findings will likely benefit from surgery. In such cases we suggest a detailed full spine MR, a multidisciplinary diagnostic work-up, and eventual untethering through an interlaminar microsurgical approach.

Gross and microscopic study of the filum terminale: does the filum contain functional neural elements?

OBJECT

The filum terminale (FT) is considered a fibrous structure that extends from conus medullaris of the spinal cord to coccyx. Based on previous studies and from their own experience with intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring of the sacral nervous system, the authors postulate that the FT contains functional neural elements in some individuals.

METHODS

The FT was dissected from 13 fresh stillborn cadavers (7 male, 6 female; mean gestational age 36 weeks and 1 day). The gross anatomical features were recorded, and connections between the FT and the nerve roots of the cauda equina were noted. These connections, when present, were sectioned for histological studies. The fila (both interna and externa) were also sectioned for histological and immunohistochemical studies. In addition, FT specimens were obtained from 5 patients undergoing sectioning of the FT in an untethering surgical procedure.

RESULTS

There were 5 gross connections between the FT and nerve roots demonstrating nerve fibers that were positive for S100. The FT showed islands of cells that were positive for GFAP in 10 cases, synaptophysin in 3 cases, S100 in 11 cases, and nestin in 2 cases. The nerve fibers in the FT were myelinated in 2 cases. The conus ended at the L-1 or L-2 vertebral level in all 13 specimens. The dural sac terminated at the S-2 vertebral level in most of the specimens. The 5 FT specimens that were obtained from patients revealed nerve bundles that were positive for S100 in 4 cases and cells that were positive for GFAP in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

There are gross anatomical connections between the FT and nerve roots that contain nerve fibers. Apart from fibrous stroma, the FT may contain nerve bundles and cells that stain positive for GFAP, synaptophysin, S100, and nestin. These microscopic findings and previous intraoperative electrophysiological studies suggest a probable functional role for the FT in some individuals. At birth, the conus ends at a higher vertebral level (lower L-1 or upper L-2) than L-3.

Diagnosis of, surgical technique for and treatment results from medullary lipomas associated with spinal dysraphism: experience with 38 patients

OBJECTIVE

To observe whether microsurgical removal of medullary lipomas and untethering of the medulla is a safe and efficient procedure.

METHOD

A retrospective study was carried out on 38 patients with medullary lipomas associated with spinal dysraphism who underwent operations between January 1986 and January 2008, at the Neurosurgery Department of the Federal Hospital for State Public Servants, in Rio de Janeiro.

RESULTS

No deaths occurred in this series, and there was no worsening of motor or bladder function among the patients. Seven individuals presented improvements in their motor deficit. Nine patients presented improvements in bladder function. Three individuals with trophic lesions achieved wound healing.

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical removal of medullary lipomas associated with spinal dysraphism proved to be a safe procedure without deaths and with a low morbidity rate, and several patients achieved improvements in their neurological symptoms.

When only partial spinal cord detethering is possible

In most instances, initial surgery to untether a tethered spinal cord is successful. But what happens when it is not? The authors describe the case of a now 18-year-old woman with spina bifida in whom surgery for tethered cord was required on two occasions. In both instances, due to the extent of her underlying lesion and fibrous tissue, only partial detethering was possible without acutely sacrificing significant neurological function. The authors detail the patient's course and review the peer-reviewed scientific literature on outcomes in patients in whom only partial cord detethering is achieved. In their review of all case series and clinical studies pertaining to the surgical treatment of tethered cord syndrome identified during an online search of 2184 scientific abstracts and 2 major neurosurgery textbooks, excluding the present case, the authors identified 53 confirmed or presumed cases of incomplete detethering in eight articles, incorporating 390 patients, for an overall prevalence of roughly 13.6%. Although no investigators have reported statistical comparisons of outcomes in those in whom just partial and complete detethering has been achieved, the evidence generally suggests poorer outcomes in the former. Prospective multicenter studies addressing this important issue clearly are warranted. To date, the authors believe that incomplete detethering is grossly underreported in the medical literature.

The effect of tethered cord release on coronal spinal balance in tight filum terminale

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review of coronal spine balance after tethered cord release for children with tight filum terminale.

OBJECTIVE

To understand the effects of untethering on coronal spine balance for these patients.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

In patients with tight filum terminale, the spinal cord is tethered by a thickened filum with a low conus medullaris but without other forms of spinal dysraphism. There have not been studies examining the effects of spinal cord untethering on coronal spinal alignment in children with tight filum terminale.

METHODS

Forty-five consecutive pediatric patients with tight filum terminale who had undergone untethering were evaluated. Their presenting signs and symptoms, pre- and postsurgery imagings, and clinical courses were reviewed for scoliosis progression.

RESULTS

Twenty-six girls and 19 boys underwent tethered cord release at a mean age of 4.5 years. The prevalence of coronal spinal malalignment, manifesting as scoliosis, before the untethering procedure was 31% (14 of 45). During the follow-up period, nine patients had coronal spinal alignment that worsened>10° (five patients eventually underwent surgical fusion), two patients had spinal alignment that improved, and five patients' curves stabilized after untethering surgery. Therefore, at the end of the follow-up period, 9 of 45 patients (20%) had worsened coronal spinal alignment. In the multivariate analysis, patients who presented with a Cobb angle greater than 35° were most likely to progress (P=0.002, odds ratio=21). There was no operative morbidity or mortality associated with scoliosis surgery.

CONCLUSION

A significant number of children with tight filum terminale were found to present with scoliosis. In patients with less severe curves, tethered cord release may halt scoliosis progression.

Neurosurgical management of congenital malformations and inherited disease of the spine

Congenital malformations encompass a diverse group of disorders present at birth as result of genetic abnormalities, infection, errors of morphogenesis, or abnormalities in the intrauterine environment. Congenital disorders affecting the brain and spinal cord are often diagnosed before delivery with the use of prenatal ultrasonography and maternal serum screening. Over the past several decades there have been major advances in the understanding and management of these conditions. This article focuses on the most common spinal congenital malformations.

Symptomatic Retethering of the Spinal Cord After Section of a Tight Filum Terminale

BACKGROUND:

Section of a tight filum terminale is a minimally invasive procedure compared with cord untethering procedures used for more complex spinal abnormalities. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that the risk of symptomatic retethering resulting from scarring might be higher than previously thought.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the frequency of symptomatic retethering after section of a tight filum terminale and to explore possible risk factors.

METHODS:

We reviewed databases at 2 pediatric neurosurgery centers for all patients who had surgery for a suspected tight filum terminale between January 1982 and June 2009.

RESULTS:

We identified 152 patients. The median length of follow-up was 78 months. Thirteen patients (8.6%) went on to retether symptomatically at a median time of 23.4 months after the initial procedure. Eight had early retethering (within 2 years) and 5 had late retethering (after 7 years). Compared with late retetherers, early retetherers were older at initial surgery (median, 9.4 vs 0.9 years of age), had a higher level of the conus (median, L1/L2 vs L3/L4), had more arachnoiditis after initial surgery, and required more repeat untethering procedures. Late retetherers were younger at initial surgery than those who did not retether (median, 0.9 vs 4.5 years of age).

CONCLUSION:

Symptomatic retethering is not uncommon after a simple filum snip, and long-term follow-up is warranted. Two distinct patterns of retethering were observed. Arachnoiditis caused by infection or a cerebrospinal fluid fistula may predispose to early retethering, whereas early surgery for prevention of tethered cord symptoms may predispose to late retethering.

Children with tethered cord syndrome of different etiology benefit from microsurgery-a single institution experience

PURPOSE

The term "tethered cord syndrome" (TCS) illustrates, according to the literature, both a separate diagnosis, as well as a combination of symptoms in the context of dysraphic conditions. The common denominator is the increased tension and abnormal stretching of the spinal cord, caused by tissue attachments that limit its movement in the spinal canal. In light of the fact that no real data exists regarding the management of these patients, the purpose of this single institutional study is to underscore management strategies and discuss the results, pitfalls, and the treatment of pediatric patients with tethered cord syndrome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The clinical outcome in 20 pediatric patients was studied retrospectively. Ten children with closed spinal dysraphism, nine with tethering after postpartum myelomeningocele repair, and one child with an infected open dermal sinus were included. A total of 22 detethering procedures were performed. The most common symptoms prior to surgery were muscle weakness and urinary dysfunction, followed by foot deformities and pain. Of all symptoms, pain responded most favorably to surgical treatment. There was improvement in 11 out of 15 patients with preoperative motor deficits, while that was the case in 11 out of 16 patients with urinary dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the lack of evidence regarding the treatment of children with tethered cord syndrome, the best way to aim for a favorable outcome is correct indication for surgical intervention, combined with the implementation of technical advancements, such as intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and ultrasound.