The tethered cord syndrome

The tethered cord syndrome is the final expression of a diverse assortment of pathological conditions that have a common feature in the mechanical restriction of normal spinal cord motion. Spinal cord pathology should be vigorously pursued in the face of neurologic deterioration, either in patients without cutaneous manifestations or in those patients with preexisting anomalies. Neurologic deterioration is not the natural history of treated congenital lesions of the spine. Early intervention in asymptomatic patients will prevent neurologic, orthopedic and urologic deterioration. Surgical correction in symptomatic patients has a very good chance of relieving pain and improving motor level.