Variation in outcome in tethered cord syndrome

Abstract

Study Design: Fifty patients surgically treated for tethered cord syndrome (TCS) were retrospectively studied at Liaquat NationalHospital, Karachi from 2010 until 2014.Purpose: To assess the common presentations of TCS in our part of the world and the surgical outcome of the different presentations.Overview of Literature: TCS is a stretch-induced functional disorder of the spinal cord with its caudal part anchored by an inelasticstructure, which results in characteristic symptoms and signs. Due to the variety of lesions and clinical presentations and the absenceof high-quality clinical outcome data, the decision regarding treatment is difficult.Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with TCS were reviewed retrospectively with a follow-up period of 12-48 months. The majorityof the patients were 0-15 years of age with the mean age of 4 years. The presenting complaints and the associated pathologies weredocumented, and the patients were assessed using the new Karachi TCS severity scale for clinical assessment.Results: Eighty five percent of the patients with thickened filum terminale improved. Sixty six percent of the patients with diastematomyelia,60% with lipoma and only 46% with myelomeningocele showed clinical improvement postoperatively. Sixty two percent ofthe patients who presented with paraperesis improved following surgery while 37% remained stable and only one patient deteriorated.Back and leg pain improved in 93% of patients and 50% of patients with urinary impairment improved.Conclusions: Outcome of patients with TCS varies according to pathology and severity of symptoms. Diastematomyelia and thickenedfilum had the best outcome. The Karachi TCS severity scale is a valid tool for future studies.