Turkish Neurosurgery 2011 , Vol 21 , Num 4
Tethered Cord Syndrome in Childhood: Special Emphasis on the Surgical Technique and Review of the Literature with Our Experience
Ilker SOLMAZ1, Yusuf IZCI1, Baki ALBAYRAK1, Eralp CETINALP1, Cahit KURAL1, Goksin SENGUL2, Cuneyt GOCMEZ1, Serhat PUSAT1, Yusuf TUZUN2
1Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Erzurum, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN .4394-11.1 AIM: Surgery is the treatment of choice for children who had tethered cord syndrome (TCS). However, a detailed technique for the release of spinal cord is not described yet. The aims of this study are to present our series of TCS in children and to focus on the details of surgical technique.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Forty-nine children with tethered cord syndrome underwent surgical treatment for the release of spinal cord between 2004 and 2009. The mean age was 4.6 years (2 days-13 years). Twenty (40.8%) patients were female and 29 (59.2%) were male. Among the 49 children, 41 (83.7%) had different spinal malformations and 8 (16.3%) had no associated lesion. Sectioning of the filum terminale, cutting the arachnoid and fibrous bands, protection of the rootlets and correction of the associated malformations was the standard surgical method to release the spinal cord.

RESULTS: Neurological improvement was observed in 4 (8.2%) patients, while the neurological status was unchanged in the others. Cerebrospinal fluid fistula was the main complication and was observed in 3 patients. No mortality or neurological deterioration was encountered.

CONCLUSION: Spinal cord release with appropriate technique seems to be beneficial in maintaining neurological functioning in children with TCS. Keywords : Tethered cord syndrome, Child, Surgical technique

Corresponding author : Yusuf Izcı, yusufizci@yahoo.com