[Diagnosis and treatment of tethered cord syndrome in adults].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical characteristics of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in adults.

METHOD: 18 patients with TCS were confirmed by preoperative MRI and were operated on for releasing of tethered conus. Pathological mechanism and main points of operation were analysed according to the operative findings and radiological data.

RESULT: The cord or conus were tethered by intradural tumors (6 patients), myelomeningocele (6), thickened filum terminale (3), diastematomyelia (2) and adhesion after operation (1). 14 of the 18 patients showed good results after follow-up for 8 months to 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Clinical manifestation and prognosis of TCS in adults are different from those of TCS in children. Attention should be paid to avoid additional injury to the conus and cauda equina during operation. The long course of disease and retethering of the conus lead to poor outcome.