Tethered Cord Syndrome-Role of Early Surgery

PURPOSE: 1. To evaluate the clinical course and effects of surgery on preexisting neurodeficits. 2. To address the issue of timing of intervention. MATERIALS: A prospective study at department of pediatric surgery, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and other hospitals from 2013 to 2017. RESULTS: There were 44 patients. Over 3/4 presented with a cutaneous marker while 9 had deficits and no markers. The commonest marker was a swelling on the back. 1/3 of infants had neurological sequelae while almost all midline older children presented with bowel/bladder/gait disturbances. All underwent detethering. Post-operative complications were minor and self-limiting. None of the children had associated Chiari malformation and 2 had a syrinx which at last follow up has been static and shown no clinical signs. Recovery was mostly seen in infants and only in one older child. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients with lipomeningomyelocele have early onset deficits and is recommended to operate at diagnosis. Children presenting with only deficits need to be evaluated for tethered cord syndrome but generally show poor or no recovery of deficits. Early prophylactic detethering is safe, feasible and advisable.