[The tethered cord syndrome : a review of causes].

We present eighteen cases with Tethered cord syndrome (TCS). They were eleven adults and eight children. There were eight cases with surgical interventions performed in other centers during the newborn period for different types of spinal disraphisms. Clinical onset was insidious in 88% of the cases, and in 12% of the cases was acute, due to a precipitating factor. The main clinical findings were neurological skeletal , urological and cutaneous alterations in variable frequencies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the best diagnostic test. Urodynamic studies in patients with urological alterations were abnormal and they helped to establish additional pharmacological treatment. After surgery 88% of the patients had an improvement or an arrest in the progression of the symptoms. Patients with shorter duration of the symptoms (less than 2 years) had a better prognosis.