Natural History of Tethered Cord in Patients with Meningomyelocele

Neurosurgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 989-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loi K. Phuong ◽  
Kimberly A. Schoeberl ◽  
Corey Raffel
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Foot Deformity ◽  
Symptom Development ◽  
History Of ◽  
Urological Procedures

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the natural history of tethered cord in patients who have undergone meningomyelocele repair. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 45 patients with a history of neonatal meningomyelocele repair who subsequently developed symptoms of tethered cord. Symptoms of tethered cord in this cohort consisted of the development of bladder spasticity or orthopedic foot deformity. None of these patients were treated with cord untethering; instead, they were treated symptomatically. RESULTS: On follow-up, 40 (88.9%) of these patients subsequently required additional orthopedic or urological procedures because of further symptoms of tethered cord. The incidence of progression of tethered cord syndrome is 27.5, 40, and 60% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although this study does not address the question whether cord untethering will prevent further symptom development, these results do provide a strong rationale for consideration of an untethering procedure in patients with repaired meningomyelocele at the time of the onset of symptoms of tethered cord.

scholarly journals Filum terminale lipomas: imaging prevalence, natural history, and conus position

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Cools ◽  
Wajd N. Al-Holou ◽  
William R. Stetler ◽  
Thomas J. Wilson ◽  
Karin M. Muraszko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Incidental Finding ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Filum Terminale ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
History Analysis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinical Records

Object Filum terminale lipomas (FTLs) are being identified with increasing frequency due to the increasing utilization of MRI. Although an FTL may be associated with tethered cord syndrome (TCS), in many cases FTLs are diagnosed incidentally in patients without any symptoms of TCS. The natural history of FTLs is not well defined. Methods The authors searched the clinical and imaging records at a single institution over a 14-year interval to identify patients with FTLs. For patients with an FTL, the clinical records were reviewed for indication for imaging, presenting symptoms, perceived need for surgery, and clinical outcome. A natural history analysis was performed using all patients with more than 6 months of clinical follow-up. Results A total of 436 patients with FTL were identified. There were 217 males and 219 females. Of these patients, 282 (65%) were adults and 154 (35%) were children. Symptoms of TCS were present in 22 patients (5%). Fifty-two patients underwent surgery for FTL (12%). Sixty-four patients (15%) had a low-lying conus and 21 (5%) had a syrinx. The natural history analysis included 249 patients with a mean follow-up time of 3.5 years. In the follow-up period, only 1 patient developed new symptoms. Conclusions Filum terminale lipomas are a common incidental finding on spinal MRI, and most patients present without associated symptoms. The untreated natural history is generally benign for asymptomatic patients.

scholarly journals Type I split cord malformation and tethered cord syndrome in an adult patient: A case report and literature review

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Erin N. D’Agostino ◽  
Daniel R. Calnan ◽  
Vyacheslav I. Makler ◽  
Imad Khan ◽  
John H. Kanter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservative Therapy ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Leg Pain ◽  
Split Cord Malformation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
History Of ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Background: In a split cord malformation (SCM), the spinal cord is divided longitudinally into two distinct hemicords that later rejoin. This can result in a tethered cord syndrome (TCS). Rarely, TCS secondary to SCM presents in adulthood. Here, we present an adult female with Type I SCM resulting in TCS and a review of literature. Case Description: A 57-year-old female with a history of spina bifida occulta presented with a 2-year history of worsening back and left leg pain, difficulty with ambulation, and intermittent urinary incontinence; she had not responded to conservative therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tethered cord secondary to lumbar type I SCM. The patient underwent an L1–S1 laminectomy for resection of the bony septum with cord detethering. At 2-month follow-up, the patient had improvement in her motor symptoms and less pain. In literature, 25 cases of adult-onset surgically managed SCM with TCS were identified (between 1936 and 2018). Patients averaged 37 years of age at the time of diagnosis, and 56% were female. Conclusion: TCS can present secondary to SCM in adulthood and is characterized predominantly by back and leg pain.

Natural history of helicobacter pylori infection from infancy to adulthood: A 21-year follow-up cohort study

2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A128-A128 ◽  
Author(s):  
H MALATY ◽  
D GRAHAM ◽  
A ELKASABANY ◽  
S REDDY ◽  
S SRINIVASAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Helicobacter Pylori Infection ◽  
History Of

Pneumomediastinum: A Rare Presentation of Inflicted Injuries in Infants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Lee ◽  
Adam Bajinting ◽  
Abby Lunneen ◽  
Colleen M. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Gustavo A. Villalona
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Rare Presentation ◽  
Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum ◽  
Nonaccidental Trauma ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Healthy Infants ◽  
History Of

AbstractReports of incidental pneumomediastinum in infants secondary to inflicted trauma are limited. A retrospective review of infants with pneumomediastinum and history of inflicted trauma was performed. A comprehensive literature review was performed. Three infants presented with pneumomediastinum associated with inflicted trauma. Mean age was 4.6 weeks. All patients underwent diagnostic studies, as well as a standardized evaluation for nonaccidental trauma. All patients with pneumomediastinum were resolved at follow-up. Review of the literature identified other cases with similar presentations with related oropharyngeal injuries. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in previously healthy infants may be associated with inflicted injuries. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of an oropharyngeal perforation related to this presentation.

The natural history of pituitary apoplexy: long term follow-up study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Shaikh ◽  
Natasha Shrikrishnapalasuriyar ◽  
Giselle Sharaf ◽  
David Price ◽  
Maneesh Udiawar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Pituitary Apoplexy ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
History Of

The natural history of benign thyroid nodules: 10 years follow-up

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Ramundo ◽  
Giorgio Grani ◽  
Rocco Bruno ◽  
Giuseppe Costante ◽  
Domenico Meringolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
History Of ◽  
Benign Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Benign Thyroid

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms in children: 18 years’ experience in a tertiary care pediatric institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel-Alexandre Bisson ◽  
Peter Dirks ◽  
Afsaneh Amirabadi ◽  
Manohar M. Shroff ◽  
Timo Krings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mean Size

OBJECTIVEThere are little data in the literature on the characteristics and natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in children. The authors analyzed their experience with unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the pediatric population at their tertiary care pediatric institution over the last 18 years. The first objective was to assess the imaging characteristics and natural history of these aneurysms in order to help guide management strategies in the future. A second objective was to evaluate the frequency of an underlying condition when an incidental intracranial aneurysm was detected in a child.METHODSThe authors conducted a Research Ethics Board–approved retrospective review of incidental intracranial aneurysms in patients younger than 18 years of age who had been treated at their institution in the period from 1998 to 2016. Clinical (age, sex, syndrome) and radiological (aneurysm location, type, size, thrombus, mass effect) data were recorded. Follow-up imaging was assessed for temporal changes.RESULTSSixty intracranial aneurysms occurred in 51 patients (36 males, 15 females) with a mean age of 10.5 ± 0.5 years (range 9 months–17 years). Forty-five patients (88.2%) had a single aneurysm, while 2 and 3 aneurysms were found in 3 patients each (5.8%). Syndromic association was found in 22 patients (43.1%), most frequently sickle cell disease (10/22 [45.5%]). Aneurysms were saccular in 43 cases (71.7%; mean size 5.0 ± 5.7 mm) and fusiform in the remaining 17 (28.3%; mean size 6.5 ± 2.7 mm). Thirty-one aneurysms (51.7%) arose from the internal carotid artery (right/left 1.4), most commonly in the cavernous segment (10/31 [32.3%]). Mean size change over the entire follow-up of 109 patient-years was a decrease of 0.6 ± 4.2 mm (range −30.0 to +4.0 mm, rate −0.12 ± 9.9 mm/yr). Interval growth (2.0 ± 1.0 mm) was seen in 8 aneurysms (13.3%; 4 saccular, 4 fusiform). An interval decrease in size (8.3 ± 10.7 mm) was seen in 6 aneurysms (10%). There was an inverse relationship between aneurysm size and growth rate (r = −0.82, p < 0.00001). One aneurysm was treated endovascularly with internal carotid artery sacrifice.CONCLUSIONSUnruptured pediatric intracranial aneurysms are most frequently single but can occur in multiples in a syndromic setting. None of the cases from the study period showed clinical or imaging signs of rupture. Growth over time, although unusual and slow, can occur in a proportion of these patients, who should be identified for short-term imaging surveillance.

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