Lumbosacral tethered cord syndrome [a review of 27 cases]

ABSTRACT

Tethered cord syndrome is a neurological disorder that is accompanied by limited movement of spinal cord within the spinal column. This study aimed to describe clinical features, surgery treatment and long term outcomes in these patients. This prospective study carried out from 1997 to 2007 on we selected 27 patients with lumbosacral tethered cord syndrome, neurological findings and positive MRI. Operation was performed clinical and neurological and imaging findings and their etiologies were recorded. Follow up was achieved in three periods for studying and reviewing of their neurological and scoliosis recovery. Data analyzed by descriptive statistics and frequency distributes tables by SPSS software. Sixteen patients were male and 11 were female. 22 cases were younger than 7 and 5 other cases were between 17 to 33. After 3 years, most of disorders were recovered. The best results were due to LBP, motoric disorder, dysesthesia and muscle cramps in lower limbs. Three Patients had CSF leakage and one patient had pseudomeningocele after operation. Surgery is recommended for resection of lesion, cord detethering or resection of tight filum terminal and adhesions. Results of surgical treatment are excellent especially in younger patients. In children, surgery is achieved for prevention of progressive neurological disorders. Cord detethering in adults, diminishes the size of cord cysts and prevents of progressive clinical and neurological disorders