Tethered Cord Treatment

Tethered cord syndrome is a disorder of the spine in which undue strain is placed on the spine, limiting its movement. The limitation is caused by tissue that becomes attached to the spinal cord, tethering it and hindering its normal elongation. This causes the spinal cord to stretch during development. This stretching can cause serious symptoms, including lower back pain, leg weakness, loss of bowel control and back deformities.

Early diagnosis

• Like all medical conditions, tethered cord syndrome is best caught early. Tethered cord syndrome is most often caused by a malfunction in the development of the neural tube in utero. This can be detected via ultrasound, allowing the family and physicians to create a treatment plan in advance.

Treatment

• If found in children, surgery will likely be performed to avoid further neurological complications caused by the syndrome. The surgery involves snipping the tissues that tether the spinal cord, reducing the strain and stretch of the spine. This procedure also protects against development of spinal cysts, which develop when a tethered cord is untreated and can exacerbate the patient's symptoms. The same surgery is performed on adults, although a physician may be less inclined to perform it; since the surgery is fairly invasive, the physician may decide to avoid the risks and opt for a simpler therapy. For instance, if full surgery is not recommended, the physician may cut the nerve roots of the spinal cord to alleviate the pain and discomfort of the syndrome.

Post-treatment

• When tethered cord syndrome is treated, patients can expect to live a fairly normal and healthy life. Depending on how late the treatment was performed, the patient may have sustained permanent neurological or motor damage which cannot be corrected by surgery.