OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics and experience of surgical treatment of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) accompanied by dermal sinus tract (DST) in adulthoods. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed a series of 25 adult patients with TCS due to DST that were surgically treated under microscope from September 2010 to October 2019. There were 10 males and 15 females with an average age of 29.7 years (rang, 18-48 years). Characterized cutaneous malformation and dermal sinus were found in the lumbosacral region in all the 25 patients. Clinically, all the patients presented with chronic back and lower-extremity pain, numbness and weakness of lower limbs, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. Two cases were admitted to the emergency room with acute infectious cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage complicated with meningitis. According to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, the subdural course of DST whose traction of the spinal cord, the location of the conus medullaris, the presence of subdural lesions, and the diameter of the internal filum terminale were evaluated. The surgical procedure included separating and excising of the DST, section of the internal filum terminale, detethering of the TCS, and reconstruction of the dural sac under microscopy. The patients remained in prone position in 7 days postoperation. RESULTS: MRI showed that the position of the conus medullaris was lower than the level of lumbar 2 vertebrae, and the distal part of the DST entered the subdural stretched part of the spinal cord, to constitute one of the factors of TCS in all the 25 patients. Twenty patients had fatty infiltration of internal filum terminale and another patient had thickened (approximately 5 mm in diameter) internal filum terminale resulting in tightening the conus medullaris. A total of 25 operations were performed including completely dissection and resection of the DST through the skin down to the subdural space, section of the internal filum terminale, detethering of the TCS, and the subdural dermoid cysts were removed in two patients. There were no postoperative complications. The postoperative pathology was consistent with the structure of the DST and internal filum terminale. The local pain was relieved, and the lower-extremity weakness and bowel and bladder dysfunction were gradually relieved postoperatively. The period of follow-up ranged from 3 months to 9 years (mean, 3.9 years). The neurological function of all the patients was intact, and MRI showed that the physiological curvature of the thoracolumbar spine remained normal. There was no recurrence of TCS observed during the follow-up. CONCLUSION The adult TCS accompanied with DST is characterized by typical cutaneous malformation in the lumbosacral region and tethering of the spinal cord. The patients are usually combined with internal filum terminale enlargement tightening of conus medullaris as well. The surgical treatment including totally resection of the DST and section of the internal filum terminale to detethering the TCS at the same time under microscopy. The outcome of surgical treatment is satisfactory.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Spina Bifida Occulta/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neural Tube Defects/surgery* ; Cauda Equina/surgery* ; Spinal Cord/abnormalities* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Pain

A 50-year-old male presented with acutely progressed paraplegia. His magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated two well-demarcated components with opposite signals in one cystic lesion between the T1- and T2-weighted images at the T1 spine level. The patient showed immediately improved neurological symptoms after surgical intervention and the histopathological exam was compatible with a neurenteric cyst. On operation, two different viscous drainages from the cyst were confirmed. A unique similarity of image findings was found from a review of the pertinent literature. The common findings of spinal neurenteric cyst include an isointense or mildly hyperintense signal relative to cerebrospinal fluid for both T1- and T2-weighted images. However, albeit rarer, the signals of some part of the cyst could change into brightly hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images due to the differing sedimentation of the more viscous contents in the cyst.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Neural Tube Defects/diagnosis/physiopathology/surgery ; *Spinal Cord/pathology/surgery ; *Spinal Cord Diseases/diagnosis/physiopathology/surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical results of one stage surgical treatment in congenital scoliosis (CS) patients associated with split cord malformation (SCM).

METHODSBetween January 2007 and December 2010, 50 patients underwent one stage surgical treatment for CS associated with SCM. Among of them, 38 patients (13 male and 25 female) with an average age of (15 ± 6) years, who were followed up in the clinic at least 2 years longer, were include in the study. There were 12 patients with Type I SCM and 26 patients with Type II SCM Pre-operative, post-operative and the follow-up imaging data were collected and compared by paired t-test, while imaging data between Type I SCM group and Type II SCM group were compared by group t-test. Bony spur was first resected to the Type I SCM while nothing was done to the Type II SCM. Then, all patients were followed by posterior corrective procedure in one stage. Meanwhile, duraplasty were only applied in 5 patients whose dural cleft were more than 1 cm longer.

RESULTSThe average follow-up was 41 ± 13 months (range, 26-68 months). The average operation time was 491 ± 152 minutes (range, 105-780 minutes) and the average blood loss was (1 933 ± 1 516) ml (range, 1 000-8 000 ml). The mean major coronal curve was corrected from 70° ± 26° preoperatively to 312° ± 16° postoperatively with a correction rate of 57% ± 18%, and 33° ± 17° at the final follow-up with a correction rate of 54% ± 20%. The mean major sagittal curve was corrected from 43° ± 31° to 26° ± 16°, and 27° ± 15° at the final follow-up. The postoperative complication occurred in 2 patients (5.3%) with Type I SCM, including neurological deterioration in 1 patient (2.6%) and cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 patient (2.6%). There were no paralysis and other serious complications. The patients who suffered from neurological deterioration recovered to the preoperative neurological status at 30 months postoperatively and no further improvement at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONIt is safe and efficient to treat the CS associated with SCM by one stage surgery without increasing the risk of neurological complications postoperatively.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; complications ; congenital ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Split cord malformations (SCMs) usually present in childhood, and are rarely reported in adults. And also, a cervicothoracic SCM associated with tethered cord syndrome has very rarely been reported in the literature. We report a case of SCM associated with tethered cord and spina bifida in an adult. This report describes the case of a 34-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of neck pain, back pain, and intermittent paraparesis of several months duration. The MRI and CT showed a SCM at the cervicothoracic level and a fibrous septum at the thoracic level. She underwent surgery for the SCM and tethered cord syndrome, and was followed for 7 years. Patient presented complete recovery in the follow-up. The authors discuss this unusual lesion and describe the anatomical relationship of the level of cord duplication and fibrous septum.
Adult* ; Back Pain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; General Surgery ; Humans ; Neck Pain ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Dysraphism

INTRODUCTIONAnorectal malformations (ARMs) and low-lying spinal cord (LLC) are commonly associated owing to their common embryonic origin. LLC may lead to tethered cord syndromes (TCS), requiring surgery. This study aimed to review the incidence of LLC in children with ARMs using ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the incidence of TCS and the surgical outcomes of these patients after detethering.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study of children who underwent surgery for ARMs in 2002-2009 at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

RESULTSOut of 101 (16.8%) ARM patients, 17 had LLC, of which 12 (70.6%) were high ARMs. 12 of the 17 (70.6%) patients had abnormal US and MR imaging findings. Five (29.4%) had normal US but abnormal MR imaging results; in these five patients, MR imaging was performed due to new symptoms and equivocal US findings. These 17 patients subsequently underwent surgical detethering. Three out of seven patients with TCS improved after surgery. None of the 17 patients had any complications.

CONCLUSIONLLC appeared to be associated with high ARMs, although this was not statistically significant. LLC should be investigated for whenever ARM is diagnosed, regardless of its type. Lumbar US is useful for first-line screening for LLC. Abnormal US or onset of new symptoms should subsequently be investigated with MR imaging. Equivocal US findings are also likely to benefit from further MR imaging. Surgery to detether LLC can improve outcome in TCS, while prophylactic detethering for asymptomatic patients with lipoma of the filum terminale has very low surgical risk.

Anorectal Malformations ; Anus, Imperforate ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

A 12-year-old boy was admitted for complaint of progressive urination disorder for over 2 years. Physical examination found dysesthesia in the perineal region and disappearance of anal reflex with anal relaxation and a spinal cleft in the sacrococcygeal region. Lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging MRI showed a low-set of the spinal cord, tethered cord, spina bifida of sacral vertebrae, and meningocele combined with lipoma inside and outside of the spinal canal. Ultrasonography displayed a significantly increased residual urine volume. The diagnosis of tethered-cord syndrome resulting from mixed lipoma was thus established. During the microsurgery, the adhesions between the spinal cord, coccygeal nerve and lipoma were released with a laser scalpel, and the lipoma inside and outside of the spinal canal was excised, after which the dural defect was repaired. The patient recovered smoothly, and the urinary function was normal at the follow-up 6 months after the surgery. Spinal cord lipoma can be classified into 2 types based on the integrity of the dura mater, and in this case, a combined dural defect was found. A definite diagnosis can be derived from the clinical manifestations and MRI findings. Microsurgery remains the currently only effective treatment, and a favorable prognosis can be expected after an early surgical intervention, especially before the functional lesion of the spinal cord. The integrity of the local dura mater considerably affects the outcome of the treatment, and dural defect often leads to surgical difficulty and poor results. The key to a successful operation lies in a full release of the adhesion and avoidance of injury to the conus medullaris and cauda equina. A reoperation in case of recurrence should be carefully evaluated for its benefits.
Child ; Humans ; Lipoma ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Neural Tube Defects ; etiology ; surgery ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Although lumbosacral lipoma is reported to occur in 4-8 of 100,000 patients, and 66% of lipomyelomeningoceles in young patients are accompanied by hypertrophic filum terminale, it is very rare to find two isolated spinal lipomas simultaneously. A 3 month-old baby girl was admitted to the hospital for a protruding, non-tender, soft, subcutaneous 2.5 cm mass of the lumbosacral area that had been present since birth. Simple radiography showed a spinal posterior arch defect from L3 to L5, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated two isolated spinal lipomas, a transitional type from L3 to L5, and a terminal type below S1 without dural defect. The cornus medullaris was severely tethered descending to the S1, but there was no cerebellar or brain stem herniation on the MRI. We suggest that the presence of a combined spinal lipoma should be a point for careful differentiation in an infant with spinal lipoma.
Treatment Outcome ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Neural Tube Defects/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Lumbosacral Region/*surgery ; Lipoma/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Infant ; Humans ; Female

OBJECTIVETo assess the results of 26 patients with tethered cord syndrome (TCS) after microsurgical operation.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with TCS were treated microsurgically and their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS72% of the patients with TCS showed significant improvement. Surgical outcome was excellent in relieving pain and sensorimotor deficits, but bladder dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONEarly diagnosis and adequate surgical release are the keys to a successful outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Neural Tube Defects ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo find out the common complications induced by the operation on patients with tethered cord syndrome (TCS) and to discuss the mechanism and the treatment of these complications.

METHODSDuring 1993 and 2001, the spinal cords of 87 patients with TCS were explored and released operatively. The operative complications were analyzed retrospectively and the results of prevention and treatment of these complications were evaluated.

RESULTSThe operative complications in patients with TCS included headache (43.7%), hemorrhage (31.0%), lumbago (21.8%), retethering (18.4%), lumbar instability (12.7%), neural injury (8.1%) and CSF leakage (4.6%).

CONCLUSIONSTo reduce operative complications, the pathology of TCS should be investigated thoroughly before operation. The techniques of microsurgery and electrophysiology should be used properly and some complications were reversible after treatment. Post-operation rehabilitation training should be stressed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Headache ; etiology ; therapy ; Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Intraoperative Complications ; therapy ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies