A tethered spinal cord occurs when the spinal cord is attached to tissue around the spine, most commonly at the base of the spine. As a result, the spinal cord can't move freely within the spinal canal.

What is cord tethering?

Tethered cord syndrome is a rare neurological condition in which the spinal cord is attached (tethered) to the surrounding tissues of the spine. This prevents the spinal cord from moving to keep up with the lengthening of the spine as it grows. The result may be nerve damage and severe pain.

Can a tethered cord be fixed?

Tethered cord may be treated with surgery

When the stretching of the spinal cord causes problems, your child may need surgery (an operation). This operation involves opening the back and the spinal column in order to release the spinal cord so it can move freely. The operation is called a laminectomy.

What is tethering of the spinal cord syndrome?

Definition. Tethered spinal cord syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column. Attachments may occur congenitally at the base of the spinal cord (conus medullaris) or they may develop near the site of an injury to the spinal cord.

What causes spinal lipomas?

Spine Disorders

Lipomas are considered developmental or inclusion tumors because they are caused by an error in fetal development in which normal adipose tissue remains stuck to developing spinal cord tissue. Dermoids and epidermoids are also considered developmental inclusion tumors.

Tethered cord and its treatment | Boston Children’s Hospital

29 related questions found

Can a lipoma near the spine cause pain?

Episacral lipoma is a significant and treatable cause of acute and chronic low back pain. Episacral lipoma occurs as a result of tears in the thoracodorsal fascia and subsequent herniation of a portion of the underlying dorsal fat pad through the tear.

Can spinal lipomas cause pain?

Sometimes painful.

Lipomas can be painful if they grow and press on nearby nerves or if they contain many blood vessels.

Is tethered cord painful?

In adults, symptoms of tethered cord often develop slowly, but they can become quite severe. Symptoms may include back pain that radiates to the legs, hips, and the genital or rectal areas. The legs may feel numb or weak, and may lose muscle. Bladder and bowel control may be difficult.

When is tethered cord diagnosed?

For newborns younger than 3 months, the easiest and fastest way to diagnose this condition is with an ultrasound of the back. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to take pictures the spinal canal. For children older than 3 months, the most effective test is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Does tethered cord require surgery?

Some infants and children require surgery to repair their tethered cord and to help with bladder control problems. Children born with a serious problem of tethered cord may need surgery as soon as possible to prevent complications.

What happens if a tethered spinal cord goes untreated?

Patients with untreated tethered cord will continue to experience their current symptoms, and their motor and sensory function may worsen. Particularly in children, lengthening of the spine with growth can lead to paraplegia and loss of bowel and bladder function.

What causes tethered cord in babies?

In many cases, children are born with a tethered cord because of a problem during the development of the spine. Tethered spinal cord can also occur after birth due to damage to the spine or from scar tissue after surgery.

Is a tethered spinal cord hereditary?

Since tethered cord syndrome is a physiological disorder and develops only when it is abnormally stretched, it cannot be connected to genetic factors, unless the congenital susceptibility of spinal cord to oxidative metabolic impairment is proven.

How long is surgery for tethered spinal cord?

The procedure lasts two to four hours. Although each child's experience is different, a typical hospital stay after a tethered cord release lasts four to seven days. If your child has the procedure, they will likely be hospitalized in the Neurosciences Unit. Here, they rest flat in bed for 24 to 72 hours after surgery.

Can tethered cord cause paralysis?

In milder cases, this pull on the spinal cord is minimal and typically does not lead to damage. That being said, patients with more severe cases may exhibit the symptoms of a spinal cord injury, such as lower body paralysis or a loss of sensation.

How do they fix a tethered spinal cord?

The surgery involves opening the scar from the prior closure down to the covering (dura) over the myelomeningocele. Sometimes a small portion of the bony vertebrae (laminae) are removed to obtain better exposure or to decompress the spinal cord.

Can a tethered spinal cord be seen on ultrasound?

OPEN NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

Tethered cord is always a feature of open spina bifida and can be seen using prenatal ultrasound (Fig. 7).

Will an MRI show tethered cord?

Vertebral anomalies could be detected both with plain films and MRI scans. Conclusion: MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of tethered cord syndrome. Patients with persistent leg and back pain associated with sphincter problems should be evaluated with MRI for a possible tethered cord syndrome.

What are the symptoms of tethered cord?

Symptoms of Tethered Spinal Cord

• Back pain or shooting pain in the legs.
• Weakness, numbness or problems with muscle function in the legs.
• Tremors or spasms in the leg muscles.
• Changes in the way the feet look, like higher arches or curled toes.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control that gets worse.

Is tethered spinal cord a rare disease?

Tethered cord syndrome is a rare neurological condition. The severity of the condition and the associated signs and symptoms vary from person to person. In some cases, symptoms may be present at birth ( congenital ), while others may not experience symptoms until later in adulthood.

How successful is tethered cord surgery?

Previous studies of surgical detethering in adult patients with a tethered cord showed that pain is the most effectively treated symptom with success rates of 48%–100%. Other deficits, such as motor weakness and sphincter dysfunction, are more difficult to treat.

What is the main cause of lipoma?

What causes a lipoma? Healthcare providers aren't sure what causes lipomas to grow. They are inherited (passed down through families). You're more likely to develop a lipoma if someone in your family has one.

What is spinal lipoma?

A spinal cord lipoma is fat within the normally positioned spinal cord without any skin or bony abnormalities. Most commonly these rare lesions are located within the thoracic spinal cord. They may be symptomatic and appear most often in adults.

WHO removes a lipoma?

If you decide to have a lipoma removed, surgical removal is usually the procedure of choice. It is preferable to choose a plastic surgeon for this treatment, since these doctors are trained in excisions that leave the best possible cosmetic result.

What happens after lipoma surgery?

What will happen after a lipoma removal: You will be able to go home after your surgery. You may have pain, swelling, or bruising where the lipoma was removed. These symptoms should get better in a few days.