Spinal column shortening versus revision detethering for recurrent adult tethered cord syndrome: a preliminary comparison of perioperative and clinical outcomes

OBJECTIVERecurrent tethered cord syndrome (TCS), believed to result from tension on the distal portion of the spinal cord, causes a constellation of neurological symptoms. Detethering surgery has been the traditional treatment for TCS. However, in cases of recurrent TCS, there is a risk of new neurological deficits developing, and subsequent retethering is difficult to prevent. Spinal column shortening has been proposed as an alternative technique to reduce the tension on the spinal cord without incurring the morbidity of revision surgery on the spinal cord. The authors compared the perioperative outcomes and morbidity of patients who were treated with one or the other procedure.METHODSThe medical records of 16 adult patients with recurrent TCS who were treated between 2005 and 2018 were reviewed. Eight patients underwent spinal column shortening, and 8 patients underwent revision detethering surgery. Patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and perioperative factors were analyzed. The authors include a video to illustrate their technique of spinal column shortening.RESULTSWithin the spinal column shortening group, no patients experienced any complications, and all 8 patients either improved or stabilized with regard to lower-extremity and bowel and bladder function. Within the revision detethering group, 2 patients had worsening of lower-extremity strength, 3 patients had worsening of bowel and bladder function, and 1 patient had improvement in bladder function. Also, 3 patients had wound-related complications. The median estimated blood loss was 731 ml in the shortening group and 163 ml in the revision detethering group. The median operative time was 358 minutes in the shortening group and 226 minutes in the revision detethering group.CONCLUSIONSClinical outcomes were comparable between the groups, but none of the spinal column shortening patients experienced worsening, whereas 3 of the revision detethering patients did and also had wound-related complications. Although the operative times and blood loss were higher in the spinal column shortening group, this procedure may be an alternative to revision detethering in extremely scarred or complex wound revision cases.

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Spinal Column Shortening for Secondary Tethered Cord Syndrome in Children: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Operative Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/ons/opy247 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. E168-E168

Author(s):

Jacob Archer ◽

Andrew Jea

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Column ◽

Tethered Cord ◽

Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽

Motor Dysfunction ◽

Bladder Function ◽

Neurological Injury ◽

Leg Length ◽

Renal Anomalies ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages

Abstract Tethered cord syndrome is a constellation of signs and symptoms involving sensory and motor dysfunction of the lower extremities, bladder, and bowel. The pathophysiology may be from a mechanical stretch of the distal spinal cord causing deleterious changes in blood supply and metabolism. The standard of care for tethered cord syndrome has been tethered cord release. However, drawbacks of traditional tethered cord release include neurological injury, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and intradural scarring and retethering of the spinal cord (secondary tethering). As such, spinal column shortening was described to avoid these risks.1 We applied spinal column shortening to children and transitional adults with secondary tethered cord syndrome.1 As shown in cadaveric biomechanical studies, the objective of surgery is to shorten by the spinal column by 1.5 to 2.5 cm, to obtain the equivalent relief of traction on the spinal cord and nerve roots as direct circumferential untethering.2 In this video, we present the case of an 11-yr-old boy with a history of VATERL (vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheo-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities) and tethered cord syndromes manifest as bladder dysfunction. Our patient had segmentation and formation anomalies of the lumbosacral junction, imperforate anus, and leg length discrepancy. He had already undergone multiple tethered cord releases with no durable improvement in bladder function. After discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of spinal column shortening with the patient and his father, we decided to proceed with this treatment alternative. At 9 mo after surgery, the patient has satisfactory clinical and radiographic outcomes. Informed consent was obtained from the parents of the patient.

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Posterior vertebral column subtraction osteotomy: a novel surgical approach for the treatment of multiple recurrences of tethered cord syndrome

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2008.10.spine08123 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 278-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Patrick C. Hsieh ◽

Stephen L. Ondra ◽

Andrew W. Grande ◽

Brian A. O'Shaughnessy ◽

Karin Bierbrauer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Vertebral Column ◽

Spinal Column ◽

Tethered Cord ◽

Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽

The Novel ◽

Tethered Spinal Cord ◽

Vertebral Column Resection ◽

Csf Leakage ◽

Multiple Recurrences

Recurrent tethered cord syndrome (TCS) has been reported to develop in 5–50% of patients following initial spinal cord detethering operations. Surgery for multiple recurrences of TCS can be difficult and is associated with significant complications. Using a cadaveric tethered spinal cord model, Grande and colleagues demonstrated that shortening of the vertebral column by performing a 15–25-mm thoracolumbar osteotomy significantly reduced spinal cord, lumbosacral nerve root, and terminal filum tension. Based on this cadaveric study, spinal column shortening by a thoracolumbar subtraction osteotomy may be a viable alternative treatment to traditional surgical detethering for multiple recurrences of TCS. In this article, the authors describe the use of posterior vertebral column subtraction osteotomy (PVCSO) for the treatment of 2 patients with multiple recurrences of TCS. Vertebral column resection osteotomy has been widely used in the surgical correction of fixed spinal deformity. The PVCSO is a novel surgical treatment for multiple recurrences of TCS. In such cases, PVCSO may allow surgeons to avoid neural injury by obviating the need for dissection through previously operated sites and may reduce complications related to CSF leakage. The novel use of PVCSO for recurrent TCS is discussed in this report, including surgical considerations and techniques in performing PVCSO.

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Pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome: correlation with symptomatology

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2004.16.2.7 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Shokei Yamada ◽

Daniel J. Won ◽

Shoko M. Yamada

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Column ◽

Tethered Cord ◽

Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽

Functional Disorder ◽

Experimental Animals ◽

Electrophysiological Activity ◽

Oxidation Ratio ◽

And Shifts ◽

Flexion And Extension

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a stretch-induced functional disorder of the spinal cord. The mechanical cause of TCS is an inelastic structure anchoring the caudal end of the spinal cord that prevents cephalad movement of the lumbosacral cord. Stretching of the spinal cord occurs in patients either when the spinal column grows faster than the spinal cord or when the spinal cord undergoes forcible flexion and extension. Research in patients and experimental animals suggests that there is a link between the clinical dysfunctions that characterize TCS and putative pathophysiological changes that accompany this syndrome. Among these changes are depression of electrophysiological activity and shifts in the reduction/oxidation ratio of cytochrome oxidase. The latter suggests that there is impairment of oxidative metabolism. These putative pathophysiological changes in TCS occur mainly within the lumbosacral cord under excessive tension. The authors discuss the pathophysiology of TCS and examine related symptoms.

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

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2017.1.peds16533 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 703-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

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.

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Minimally invasive tethered cord release in adults: a comparison of open and mini-open approaches

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2010.3.focus1077 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. E7 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Matthew B. Potts ◽

Jau-Ching Wu ◽

Nalin Gupta ◽

Praveen V. Mummaneni

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Blood Loss ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Tethered Cord ◽

Open Group ◽

Incision Length ◽

Estimated Blood Loss ◽

The Mean ◽

Mini Open

Object Symptomatic tethered cord and associated anomalies such as diastematomyelia rarely present during adulthood but can cause significant pain as well as motor, sensory, and bladder dysfunction. As with children, studies have shown that surgical detethering may provide improvement in pain and neurological deficits. Typical surgical management involves an open laminectomy, sectioning of the filum terminale, and exploration of the split cord malformation. Such open approaches, however, cause significant paraspinous muscle trauma and scarring. Recent advances in minimally invasive techniques allow for access to the spine and thecal sac while minimizing associated muscular trauma. The authors present a comparison of open versus minimally invasive surgery to treat adult tethered cord syndrome. Methods Six adult patients underwent surgical release of a tethered spinal cord (2 of them also had diastematomyelia). The mean age of the patients was 47.78 years (range 31–64 years). All medical records and images were retrospectively reviewed. Three of the patients underwent traditional open laminectomies for detethering (open group) while the other 3 patients underwent minimally invasive (mini-open) spinal cord detethering. The length of the incision, length of stay, estimated blood loss, and complications were compared between the 2 groups. Results All 6 patients had tethered spinal cords, and 1 patient in each group had diastematomyelia. The mean estimated blood loss during surgery (300 ml in the open group vs 167 ml in the mini-open group, p = 0.313) and the mean length of stay (7 days in the open group vs 6.3 days in the mini-open group, p = 0.718) were similar between the 2 groups. The incision length was half as long in the mini-open group versus the open group. However, 1 patient in the mini-open group developed a postoperative pseudomeningocele requiring surgical revision, whereas the open group had no revision surgeries. Conclusions Cases of symptomatic diastematomyelia and tethered cord in adults can be safely and effectively explored through a mini-open approach. In this small case series, the authors did find that the mini-open group had an incision that was 50% smaller than the open group, but they did not find a significant clinical difference between the groups.

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Posterior vertebral column subtraction osteotomy for the treatment of tethered cord syndrome: review of the literature and clinical outcomes of all cases reported to date

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2010.4.focus1070 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. E6 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Patrick C. Hsieh ◽

Christopher J. Stapleton ◽

Pavel Moldavskiy ◽

Tyler R. Koski ◽

Stephen L. Ondra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Vertebral Column ◽

Spinal Column ◽

Tethered Cord ◽

Original Description ◽

Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽

Initial Release ◽

Single Posterior Approach ◽

Cadaveric Model

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a debilitating condition of progressive neurological decline caused by pathological, longitudinal traction on the spinal cord. Surgical detethering of the involved neural structures is the classic method of treatment for lumbosacral TCS, although symptomatic retethering has been reported in 5%–50% of patients following initial release. Subsequent operations in patients with complex lumbosacral dysraphic lesions are fraught with difficulty, and improvements in neurological function are modest while the risk of complications is high. In 1995, Kokubun described an alternative spine-shortening procedure for the management of TCS. Conducted via a single posterior approach, the operation relies on spinal column shortening to relieve indirectly the tension placed on the tethered neural elements. In a cadaveric model of TCS, Grande and colleagues further demonstrated that a 15–25-mm thoracolumbar subtraction osteotomy effectively reduces spinal cord, lumbosacral nerve root, and filum terminale tension. Despite its theoretical appeal, only 18 reports of the use of posterior vertebral column subtraction osteotomy for TCS treatment have been published since its original description. In this review, the authors analyze the relevant clinical characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcomes of all 18 reported cases and review the role of posterior vertebral column subtraction osteotomy in the surgical management of primary and recurrent TCS.

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Association between R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score and perioperative outcomes following open partial nephrectomy under cold ischemia

Canadian Urological Association Journal ◽

10.5489/cuaj.1372 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (3-4) ◽

pp. 137

Author(s):

Dong Soo Park ◽

Jin Ho Hwang ◽

Moon Hyung Kang ◽

Jong Jin Oh

Keyword(s):

Blood Loss ◽

Partial Nephrectomy ◽

Perioperative Outcomes ◽

Renal Neoplasm ◽

Cold Ischemia ◽

Ischemic Time ◽

Open Partial Nephrectomy ◽

Cold Ischemic Time ◽

Nephrometry Score ◽

Estimated Blood Loss

Introduction: We investigate the clinical significance of the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score for renal neoplasm following open partial nephrectomy (PN) under cold ischemia.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using clinical data of 98 consecutive patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who underwent open PN by a single surgeon from December 2000 to September 2012. Tumour complexity was stratified into 3 categories: low (4-6), moderate (7-9) and high (10-12) complexity. Perioperative outcomes, such as complications, cold ischemic time, estimated blood loss and renal function, were analyzed according to the complexity by NS. Complications were stratified using the Clavien-Dindo classification system.Results: Tumour complexity according to nephrometry score was assessed as low in 16 (16.3%), moderate in 48 (49.0%) and high in 34 (34.7%). The median cold ischemic time did not differ significantly among the 3 groups (36.0 minutes in low-, 40 minutes in moderate- and 43 minutes in the high-complexity group, p = 0.421). Total complications did not differ significantly (2 (2.0%) in low, 4 (4.1%) in moderate and 4 (4.1%) in high, p = 0.984). Each Grade 3 complication occurred in the moderate (urine leakage) and high groups (lymphocele). Postoperative renal functional outcomes were similar among the groups (p = 0.729). Only mean estimated blood loss was significantly different with nephrometry score (p = 0.049).Conclusions: The nephrometry score, as used in an open PN series under cold ischemia, was not significantly associated with perioperative outcomes (i.e., ischemia time, complications, renal functional preservation).

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Spine-shortening vertebral osteotomy in a patient with tethered cord syndrome and a vertebral fracture

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/spi/2008/9/7/062 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 62-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Haruo Kanno ◽

Toshimi Aizawa ◽

Hiroshi Ozawa ◽

Takeshi Hoshikawa ◽

Eiji Itoi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Vertebral Fracture ◽

Rare Case ◽

Tethered Cord ◽

Conus Medullaris ◽

Tethered Cord Syndrome ◽

Bone Union ◽

Tethered Spinal Cord ◽

Fracture Fragment ◽

Loss Of Correction

The authors report a rare case of tethered cord syndrome with low-placed conus medullaris complicated by a vertebral fracture that was successfully treated by a spine-shortening vertebral osteotomy. The patient was a 57-year-old woman whose neurological condition worsened after a T-12 vertebral fracture because a fracture fragment and the associated local kyphotic deformity directly compressed the tethered spinal cord. An osteotomy of the T-12 vertebra was performed in order to correct the kyphosis, remove the fracture fragment, and reduce the tension on the spinal cord. Postoperative radiographs showed the spine to be shortened by 22 mm, and the kyphosis between T-11 and L-1 improved from 23° to 0°. Two years after the surgery, the patient's neurological symptoms were resolved. The bone union was complete with no loss of correction.

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Retrospective comparison of three minimally invasive approaches for adrenal tumors: perioperative outcomes of transperitoneal laparoscopic, retroperitoneal laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy

BMC Urology ◽

10.1186/s12894-020-00637-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Changwei Ji ◽

Qun Lu ◽

Wei Chen ◽

Feifei Zhang ◽

Hao Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Blood Loss ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy ◽

Perioperative Outcomes ◽

Adrenal Tumors ◽

Transfusion Rate ◽

Robot Assisted ◽

Estimated Blood Loss ◽

Minimally Invasive Adrenalectomy

Abstract Background To compare the perioperative outcomes of transperitoneal laparoscopic (TLA), retroperitoneal laparoscopic (RLA), and robot-assisted transperitoneal laparoscopic (RATLA) adrenalectomy for adrenal tumors in our center. Methods Between April 2012 and February 2018, 241 minimally invasive adrenalectomies were performed. Cases were categorized based on the minimally invasive adrenalectomy technique. Demographic characteristics, perioperative information and pathological data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results This study included 37 TLA, 117 RLA, and 87 RATLA procedures. Any two groups had comparable age, ASA score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and preoperative hemoglobin. The tumor size for RLA patients was 2.7 ± 1.1 cm, which was significantly smaller compared to patients who underwent TLA/RATLA (p = 0.000/0.000). Operative time was similar in any two groups, while estimated blood loss was lower for RATLA group (75.6 ± 95.6 ml) compared with the TLA group (131.1 ± 204.5 ml) (p = 0.041). Conversion to an open procedure occurred in only one (2.7%) patient in the TLA group for significant adhesion and hemorrhage. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of transfusion rate and complication rate. Length of stay was shorter for the RATLA group versus the TLA/RLA group (p = 0.000/0.029). In all groups, adrenocortical adenoma and pheochromocytoma were the most frequent histotypes. Conclusions Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is associated with expected excellent outcomes. In our study, the RATLA approach appears to provide the benefits of decreased estimated blood loss and length of stay. Robotic adrenalectomy appears to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

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Analysis of predictors of adherent perinephric fat and its impact on perioperative outcomes in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: a retrospective case–control study

World Journal of Surgical Oncology ◽

10.1186/s12957-021-02429-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lu Fang ◽

Huan Li ◽

Tao Zhang ◽

Rui Liu ◽

Taotao Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Loss ◽

Partial Nephrectomy ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Warm Ischemia ◽

Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy ◽

Renal Tumors ◽

Perioperative Outcomes ◽

Transfusion Rate ◽

Estimated Blood Loss ◽

Perinephric Fat

Abstract Background Adherent perinephric fat (APF), characterized by inflammatory fat surrounding the kidney, can limit the isolation of renal tumors and increase the operative difficulty in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of APF and its impact on perioperative outcomes during LPN. Methods A total of 215 consecutive patients undergoing LPN for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from January 2017 to June 2019 at our institute were included. We divided these patients into two groups according to the presence of APF. Radiographic data were retrospectively collected from preoperative cross-sectional imaging. The perioperative clinical parameters were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive factors of APF. Results APF was identified in 41 patients (19.1%) at the time of LPN. Univariate analysis demonstrated that APF was significantly correlated with the male gender (P = 0.001), higher body mass index (P = 0.002), lower preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.004), greater posterior perinephric fat thickness (P< 0.001), greater perinephric stranding (P< 0.001), and higher Mayo Adhesive Probability (MAP) score (P< 0.001). The MAP score (P< 0.001) was the only variable that remained an independent predictor for APF in multivariate analysis. We found that patients with APF had longer operative times (P< 0.001), warm ischemia times (P = 0.001), and greater estimated blood loss (P = 0.003) than those without APF. However, there were no significant differences in surgical approach, transfusion rate, length of postoperative stay, complication rate, or surgical margin between the two groups. Conclusions Several specific clinical and radiographic factors including the MAP score can predict APF. The presence of APF is associated with an increased operative time, warm ischemia time, and greater estimated blood loss but has no impact on other perioperative outcomes in LPN.

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