Spine-shortening osteotomy for patients with tethered cord syndrome caused by lipomyelomeningocele

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoichi Kokubun ◽  
Hiroshi Ozawa ◽  
Toshimi Aizawa ◽  
Ngo Minh Ly ◽  
Yasuhisa Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Thoracic Myelopathy ◽  
Shortening Osteotomy ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Rod System

Object Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a disorder involving an abnormal stretching of the tethered spinal cord caused by several pathological conditions and presents with a variety of neurological symptoms. Untethering (tethered cord release) is the gold standard treatment for TCS. However, untethering carries risks of spinal cord injury and postoperative retethering. To avoid these potential risks, the authors applied spine-shortening osteotomy to adult patients with TCS, and report on the surgical procedure and treatment outcomes. Methods Eight patients with TCS caused by a lipomyelomeningocele were surgically treated by the authors' original procedure of spine-shortening osteotomy. Six patients were male and 2 were females; average age at the time of surgery was 31 years old. Spine-shortening osteotomy was performed at the level of L-1 in all but 2 patients, in whom it was performed at T-12, with spinal fusion between T-12 and L-2 or T-11 and L-1 using a pedicle screw–rod system. The average follow-up period was 6.2 years and the patients' pre- and postoperative conditions were evaluated clinically and radiologically. Results Preoperatively, all patients displayed severe neurological deficits such as motor disturbance, muscle atrophy, and bladder dysfunction. Several months before surgery, all showed progressive symptoms. Those symptoms showed initial improvement in 6 patients and stabilized in 2 postoperatively, but the improved symptoms worsened again in 4 of the 6 patients. The osteotomized vertebrae were shortened by 21 mm on average, and all spines showed complete bone union without loss of correction. At the final follow-up evaluations, 6 patients showed stabilization as per the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score for thoracic myelopathy. Conclusions Spine-shortening osteotomy successfully helps reduce the spinal cord tension without causing direct neural damage. At minimum, it stabilized the patients' symptoms and/or helped delay neurological deterioration for a period of time. Spine-shortening osteotomy might be a feasible mode of treatment for adult TCS caused by a spinal lipoma.

scholarly journals Spinal column shortening for tethered cord syndrome associated with myelomeningocele, lumbosacral lipoma, and lipomyelomeningocele in children and young adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Aldave ◽  
Daniel Hansen ◽  
Steven W. Hwang ◽  
Amee Moreno ◽  
Valentina Briceño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Spinal Column ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Csf Leak ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Children And Young Adults

OBJECTIVETethered cord syndrome is the clinical manifestation of an abnormal stretch on the spinal cord, presumably causing mechanical injury, a compromised blood supply, and altered spinal cord metabolism. Tethered cord release is the standard treatment for tethered cord syndrome. However, direct untethering of the spinal cord carries potential risks, such as new neurological deficits from spinal cord injury, a CSF leak from opening the dura, and retethering of the spinal cord from normal scar formation after surgery. To avoid these risks, the authors applied spinal column shortening to children and transitional adults with primary and secondary tethered cord syndrome and report treatment outcomes. The authors' aim with this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of spinal column shortening for tethered cord syndrome by analyzing their experience with this surgical technique.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed the demographic and procedural data of children and young adults who had undergone spinal column shortening for primary or secondary tethered cord syndrome.RESULTSSeven patients with tethered cord syndrome caused by myelomeningocele, lipomyelomeningocele, and transitional spinal lipoma were treated with spinal column shortening. One patient with less than 24 months of follow-up was excluded from further analysis. There were 3 males and 4 females; the average age at the time was surgery was 16 years (range 8–30 years). Clinical presentations for our patients included pain (in 5 patients), weakness (in 4 patients), and bowel/bladder dysfunction (in 4 patients). Spinal column osteotomy was most commonly performed at the L-1 level, with fusion between T-12 and L-2 using a pedicle screw-rod construct. Pedicle subtraction osteotomy was performed in 6 patients, and vertebral column resection was performed in 1 patient. The average follow-up period was 31 months (range 26–37 months). Computed tomography–based radiographic outcomes showed solid fusion and no instrumentation failure in all cases by the most recent follow-up. Five of 7 patients (71%) reported improvement in preoperative symptoms during the follow-up period. The mean differences in initial and most recent Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index scores were 0.26 and –13%, respectively; minimum clinically important difference in SRS-22 and ODI were assumed to be 0.4% and –12.8%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSSpinal column shortening seems to represent a safe and efficacious alternative to traditional untethering of the spinal cord for tethered cord syndrome.

Tethered cord syndrome in adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 258-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Klekamp
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group B

Object The treatment of tethered cord syndromes in adults is discussed regarding the natural history and surgical indications. The author analyzes data obtained in patients who were diagnosed with a tethered cord in adulthood and either underwent surgical or conservative therapy between 1991 and 2009. Methods Since 1991, data obtained in 2515 patients with spinal cord pathologies were entered into the spinal cord database, and prospective follow-up was performed through outpatient visits and questionnaires. Of the 2515 patients, 85 adults with a tethered cord syndrome formed the basis of this study. The tethering effect was caused either by a split cord malformation, a thick filum terminale, a conus medullaris lipoma with extradural extension, or various combinations of these mechanisms. The mean age of the patients was 46 ± 13 years (range 23–74 years) and the mean follow-up duration was 61 ± 62 months. Two groups were distinguished based on the absence (Group A, 43 patients) or presence (Group B, 42 patients) of an associated lipoma or dysraphic cyst (that is, dermoid, epidermoid, or neurenteric cyst). Surgery was recommended for patients with symptoms only. Short-term results were determined within 3 months of surgery, whereas long-term outcomes (clinical recurrences) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Results For all patients, pain was the most common major complaint. Severe neurological deficits were rare. In Group A, 20 of 43 patients underwent surgery, whereas in Group B 23 of 42 patients underwent surgery. Among individuals who did not undergo surgery, 17 patients refused surgery and 25 patients underwent recommended conservative treatment. Short-term postoperative results indicated a significant improvement of pain and a stabilization of neurological symptoms. Long-term results showed a good prognosis in patients in whom first-time (that is, nonrevision) surgery achieved successful untethering, with a 10-year rate of neurological stabilization in 89% of Group A and a 10-year rate of neurological stabilization in 81% of Group B patients. The benefit of secondary operations in Group B was limited, with eventual clinical deterioration occurring in all patients within 10 years. For patients treated conservatively, follow-up information could be obtained in 33 of 42 patients. Twenty-eight patients remained in stable clinical condition. Only 5 of the conservatively treated patients experienced clinical deterioration over time; in 4 of these individuals with deterioration, surgery had been recommended but was refused by the patient. The clinical recurrence rate in all conservatively treated patients was 21% after 10 years. With a recommendation for surgery this figure rose to 47% within 5 years. Conclusions Surgery in adult patients with a tethered cord syndrome should be reserved for those with symptoms. In surgically treated patients, pain relief can often be achieved, and long-term neurological stabilization tends to persist more often than it does in conservatively treated patients. A conservative approach is warranted, however, in adult patients without neurological deficits. Revision surgery in patients with complex dysraphic lesions should be performed in exceptional cases only.

scholarly journals Full-Endoscopic Decompression with the Application of an Endoscopic-Matched Ultrasonic Osteotome for Removal of Ossification of the Thoracic Ligamentum Flavum

2021 ◽  
pp. 275-281
Author(s):  
Yuan-Ting Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Surgery ◽  
Ligamentum Flavum ◽  
Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽  
Thoracic Myelopathy ◽  
Improvement Rate ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Endoscopic Spinal Surgery

Background: Resection of the ossification of the thoracic ligamentum flavum (OTLF) with a high-speed burr may cause a high rate of perioperative complications, such as dural laceration and/or iatrogenic spinal cord injury. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and feasibility of the endoscopicmatched ultrasonic osteotome in full-endoscopic spinal surgery for direct removal of OTLF. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: All data were from Honghui Hospital in Xi’an. Methods: This study conducted between December 2017 and December 2018, included 27 consecutive patients who met the study criteria, had single-level OTLF, and underwent fullendoscopic decompression under local anesthesia. The postoperative follow-up was scheduled at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Outcomes evaluations included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for lower extremity pain and the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and improvement rate for the assessment of thoracic myelopathy. Removal of OTLF was measured by comparing the pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Results: The operation was completed in all patients without conversion to open surgery. The operation time ranged from 65 to 125 minutes (average, 83.7 ± 12.3 minutes). All patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months, with an average follow-up of 14.3 ± 1.3 months. Satisfactory neurologic decompression was confirmed by postoperative CT and MRI, and no revision surgery was required. The VAS and mJOA scores showed statistically higher improvement at the 1-month follow-up and the last follow-up compared with the preoperative assessment (P < 0.05). According to the improvement rate at the final follow-up, 20 cases were classified as good, 6 cases were fair, and 1 case remained unchanged. Limitations: A single-center, noncontrol study. Conclusions: The endoscopic-matched ultrasonic osteotome can be considered quite safe and feasible for direct removal of OTLF during full-endoscopic spinal surgery in strictly selected patients, as this allows for effective direct decompression of OTLF while minimizing trauma and instability. In addition, because of the design characteristics of the ultrasonic osteotome, surgical complications, especially dural tears and spinal cord injury, can also be effectively controlled. Key words: Percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery, ultrasonic osteotome, ossification of thoracic ligamentum flavum, microsurgery, thoracic myelopathy, minimally invasive procedures

scholarly journals Successful treatment of a patient with congenital kyphoscoliosis associated with tethered cord

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ren Tao ◽  
Tian-Li Yang ◽  
Michael S. Chang ◽  
Huan Li ◽  
Da-Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Congenital Scoliosis ◽  
Conus Medullaris ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Vertebral Column Resection ◽  
Apical Vertebra ◽  
Shortening Osteotomy ◽  
Posterior Spine

Tethered cord is a common finding in congenital scoliosis. The most frequently advocated approach for this condition is to perform prophylactic detethering of the cord before scoliosis corrective surgery. The authors report on a 14-year-old patient with congenital thoracic kyphoscoliosis associated with a tethered cord, who developed progressive paraparesis and was successfully treated by posterior spine shortening osteotomy alone without prophylactic untethering. The patient had a 103° scoliotic curve together with a 93° kyphotic curve with an apical vertebra of T-7. Furthermore, he developed a significant progression of neurological deficits, including weakness of both legs and urinary and bowel incontinence. Preoperative MRI revealed that the spinal cord was entrapped by the apical vertebra and the low-placed conus medullaris was at approximately L-5. A posterior vertebral column resection of T-7 was performed for the purpose of simultaneously correcting the kyphoscoliosis and releasing tension on the tethered cord without a true detethering surgery. The patient's spinal cord function recovered completely from Frankel D to Frankel E by 6 months after the procedure. Evaluation at 31 months after surgery showed maintenance of good curve correction and normal neurological function.

Congenital tethered spinal cord syndrome in adults

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 958-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bermans J. Iskandar ◽  
Benjamin B. Fulmer ◽  
Mark N. Hadley ◽  
W. Jerry Oakes
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Early Surgery ◽  
Split Cord Malformation ◽  
Tethered Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The management of tethered spinal cord syndrome with onset of symptomatology occurring in adulthood remains controversial, although the necessity of early surgery in the pediatric tethered cord syndrome population is well established. To ascertain the results of surgery in adult patients with this anomaly, the authors undertook a retrospective review of 34 cases. Methods. The authors studied the hospital records of 34 consecutive patients who presented in adulthood with tethered cord syndrome and conducted follow-up phone interviews with 28 of them. The population consisted of 12 men and 22 women, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years (mean 34 years). The most common presenting feature was pain, followed by weakness and incontinence. All patients underwent surgery. The most common operative findings were tight filum terminale, split cord malformation, and lipomyelomeningocele, paralleling those observed in pediatric studies. Long-term surgical results and patient outcome ratings were encouraging. After a mean clinical follow-up period of 4 years, significant improvement occurred in 22 of 27 patients presenting with pain, 13 of 27 patients with motor or sensory dysfunction, and 11 of 18 patients with bowel and bladder disturbance. In addition, telephone interviews were obtained after a period of 8.6 years. Twenty-two (79%) of 28 patients called the operation a long-term success; 21 (75%) of 28 patients believed that they had significant postoperative improvement (and not just stabilization) in pain and/or neurological function. Surgical complications were generally minor. Nineteen (86%) of 22 employed patients returned to work after surgery. Two (33%) of six patients who were not employed before surgery worked full time postoperatively. Only two of the 28 patients interviewed had received Workers' Compensation benefits; both of these had good outcomes and returned to work. Conclusions. Tethered spinal cord syndrome in adults is an uncommon entity that can become symptomatic. Although surgery in adults involves greater risk of neurological injury than in children, it is a low-risk procedure with encouraging results. Because neurological deficits are generally irreversible, early surgery is recommended.

The outcome of tethered cord release in secondary and multiple repeat tethered cord syndrome

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wajd N. Al-Holou ◽  
Karin M. Muraszko ◽  
Hugh J. Garton ◽  
Steven R. Buchman ◽  
Cormac O. Maher
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Primary Repair ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Multiple Repeat

Object After primary repair of a myelomeningocele or a lipomyelomeningocele, patients can present with symptoms of secondary tethered cord syndrome (TCS). After surgical untethering, a small percentage of these patients can present with multiple repeat TCS. In patients presenting with secondary or multiple repeat TCS, the role as well the expected outcomes of surgical untethering are not well defined. Methods Eighty-four patients who underwent spinal cord untethering after at least 1 primary repair were retrospectively evaluated using scaled and subjective outcome measures at short-term and long-term follow-up visits. Outcomes were analyzed for predictive measures using multivariate logistic regression. Results Surgical untethering was performed in 66 patients with myelomeningoceles and 18 patients with lipomyelomeningoceles. Fourteen patients underwent multiple repeat spinal cord untethering. Patients were followed up for an average of 6.2 years. Most patients had stability of function postoperatively. Motor function and weakness improved in 7 and 16% of patients at 6 months, respectively, and 6 and 19% of patients at long-term follow-up evaluation, respectively. Of the patients who presented with back pain, 75% had improvement in symptoms at 6 months postoperatively. Younger age at untethering was significantly associated with worse long-term neurological outcomes. The number of previous untethering procedures, original diagnosis, sex, anatomical level, and degree of untethering had no effect on surgical outcomes. Conclusions Patients presenting with secondary or multiple repeat TCS may benefit from surgical untethering.

Surgical management of tethered spinal cord in adults: report of 54 cases

2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Hüttmann ◽  
Juergen Krauss ◽  
Hartmut Collmann ◽  
Niels Sörensen ◽  
Klaus Roosen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Split Cord Malformation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Pain Status ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The clinical features specific to tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in adults as well as factors determining outcome and prognosis have rarely been addressed systematically. The authors studied 56 patients, 54 of whom were treated surgically over the last 16 years. Methods. In 17 patients who had been asymptomatic during childhood, TCS was diagnosed 8 years after onset of symptoms. Tethered cord syndrome was diagnosed 4 years after worsening in 39 patients with neurological signs or symptoms since childhood. The patients were followed for an average of 8 years. Features specific to adult-age presentation included nondermatomal pain aggravated by movement in 34 patients and conditions such as pregnancy and childbirth (in five of 11 pregnant patients). The most frequent tethering lesions were lipoma in 32, tight terminal filum in 28, and split cord malformation and secondary adhesions in 12 patients, respectively. Improvement or stabilization of symptoms at 6 months after surgery was noted in 46 (85%) of 54 patients. Improvement in pain status was most frequent (86%) followed by improvements in spasticity (71%), bladder dysfunction (44%), and sensorimotor deficits (35%). Factors associated with adverse outcome included preoperative duration of neurological deficits more than 5 years and incomplete untethering. On average, 8 (80%) of 10 patients with incomplete untethering developed recurrent symptoms 5 years after surgery compared with only seven (16%) of 44 patients in whom complete untethering was achieved. Seven patients underwent reoperation and in five of them stabilization of symptoms was attained. At a mean follow up of 8 years, 46 (85%) of the 54 surgically treated patients were in stable neurological condition, including those in whom reoperation was performed. Conclusions. Surgery for TCS is as beneficial in adults as it is in children. Its success depends on early diagnosis and complete untethering of the spinal cord.

Assessing Spinal Cord Injury Area in Patients with Tethered Cord Syndrome by Diffusion Tensor Imaging

2019 ◽  
Vol 127 ◽  
pp. e542-e547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haibo Wang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Yingjie Wang ◽  
Jingchuan Sun ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Injury Area

scholarly journals Congenital tethered spinal cord syndrome in adults

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bermans J. Iskandar ◽  
Benjamin B. Fulmer ◽  
Mark N. Hadley ◽  
W. Jerry Oakes
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽  
Early Surgery ◽  
Split Cord Malformation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Tethered Spinal Cord ◽  
Sensory Dysfunction

Object The management of tethered cord syndrome with onset of symptomatology occurring in adulthood remains controversial, although the necessity of early surgery in the pediatric tethered cord syndrome population is well established. To ascertain the results of surgery in adult patients with this anomaly, the authors undertook a retrospective review of 34 cases. Methods The authors studied the hospital records of 34 consecutive patients who presented in adulthood with tethered cord syndrome and conducted follow-up phone interviews with 28 of them. The population consisted of 12 men and 22 women, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years (mean 34 years). The most common presenting feature was pain, followed by weakness and incontinence. All patients underwent surgery. The most common operative findings were tight filum terminale, split cord malformation, and lipomyelomeningocele, paralleling those observed in pediatric studies. Long-term surgical results and patient outcome ratings were encouraging. After a mean clinical follow-up period of 4 years, significant improvement occurred in 22 of 27 patients presenting with pain, 13 of 27 patients with motor or sensory dysfunction, and 11 of 18 patients with bowel and bladder disturbance. In addition, telephone interviews were obtained after a period of 8.6 years. Twenty-two (79%) of 28 patients called the operation a long-term success; 21 (75%) of 28 patients believed that they had significant postoperative improvement (and not just stabilization) in pain and/or neurological function. Surgical complications were generally minor. Surgery-related complications included one cerebrospinal fluid leak and five pseudomeningoceles. Two patients complained of worsening motor or sensory dysfunction and one of worsening bladder dysfunction, whereas four patients experienced persistent pain and one complained of worsening pain postoperatively. According to the patients, the vast majority of these complications were minor. Nineteen (86%) of 22 employed patients returned to work after surgery. Two (33%) of six patients who were not employed before surgery worked full time postoperatively. Only two of the 28 patients interviewed had received Workers' Compensation benefits; both of these had good outcomes and returned to work. Conclusions Tethered spinal cord syndrome in adults is an uncommon entity that can become symptomatic. Although surgery in adults involves greater risk of neurological injury than in children, it is a low-risk procedure with encouraging results. Because neurological deficits are generally irreversible, early surgery is recommended.

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