What is Tethered Spinal Cord?
Tethered Spinal Cord is a diseased condition in which the spinal corduroy which is normally freely hanging social structure which can move about freely and endure up and down becomes attached or joined to the spinal column through the surrounding social organisation . When this happens the spinal cord is not able-bodied to move freely and is trapped tightly at one end thus slenderize menses of rip to the spinal spunk and damage the spinal electric cord due to exuberant stretching and reduced blood menses to nerves . Tethered Spinal Cord or Tethering of Spinal Cord can come about before the baby is born or after parentage . It can even pass in adult . This occurs most commonly in the lower part of the spine . Tethered Spinal Cord is in almost all case accompany by a term called as spina bifida . When Tethering of Spinal Cord occurs in children it stimulate the spinal corduroy to stretch abnormally as the child grows , but in adult the spinal electric cord stretch with any activity the soul does which may be at work or at home . If Tethered Spinal Cord is left untreated it can cause permanent hurt to the spinal electric cord .
What can Cause Tethered Spinal Cord in Children?
When talk of children there may be many reasons for Tethering of Spinal Cord , but in absolute majority of cause this occurs with a condition send for myelomeningocele which is quite an uncommon birth blemish . With time as the child grows , the spinal cord becomes stuck at one station and tethering of the spinal cord fall out . As a resultant role of this , there is pressure exert on the spinal cord result in quite bothersome symptoms . Some of the other reasons for Tethered Spinal Cord in children are aesculapian condition like filum terminale in which the terminus of the spinal cord becomes abnormally tight , there is an unnatural tract fit into the spinal duct from skin , a condition called as diplomyelia in which the spinal cord gets divided into two parts at its end , and last if the child has a tumor of the spine .
What are the Symptoms of Tethered Spinal Cord?
Some of the symptom of Tethered Spinal Cord or Tethering of Spinal Cord are :
asunder from these symptom there may also be certain other abnormalities like a dimple or a birthmark or other anorectal malformations . As stated if this condition is leave untreated it can stimulate knockout terms to the spinal corduroy .
How is Tethered Spinal Cord Diagnosed?
Majority of the case of Tethered Spinal Cord or Tethering of Spinal Cord are caught in their former phases quite easily due to the deformities that present with it in the back like butterball masses , areas of increase pigmentation , abnormally large appeal of hair . As presently as such abnormalities are observed it is best to seek a interview with a physician who will order an MRI CAT scan which can clearly confirm the diagnosis of Tethering of Spinal Cord . In an babe , an MRI may not be recommended and an ultrasound may be done to confirm this circumstance . It is always recommended to figure the spine in its entireness and just not the part which is having the symptom in lodge to rule out other condition causing the symptom .
How is Tethered Spinal Cord Treated?
The good way to treat Tethered Spinal Cord or Tethering of Spinal Cord is to correct it surgically . For this , the neurosurgeon will recommend a procedure call as laminectomy . In this procedure , the surgeon will absent some part of the bones in the spur in order of magnitude to reach the spinal cord and the mettle roots . Once this is done , the next step is to release the spinal cord from its attached fatty tissue paper by softly cutting it . This is done very carefully for avoid offend the adjacent neural social organisation and nerve root . Once the spinal cord is detached , the surgeon will then patch it up to preclude CSF leakage . This procedure can also be termed as untethering of the spinal cord . Even after a successful procedure there is a 30 % hazard of recurrence of this status as the child develop and retell untethering may be postulate .
FAQs on Tethered Spinal Cord?
Below mentioned are some of the question that are asked quite frequently regarding Tethered Spinal Cord . These questions are :
Apart from surgery, is there any other form of Treatment that has been found to be effective in Treatment of Tethered Spinal Cord?
The reply to this is that various forms of substitute therapies andphysical therapyhave been tried , but they have provide only temporary relief and in the long condition the symptoms more often than not return , hence as of now operative treatment is the only good discourse for Tethering of Spinal Cord .
Are there any Complications of Untethering of Spinal Cord?
Usually untethering of the spinal cord is considered a secure procedure with very minimum risk , but as with any operative procedure there are implicit in risk of infection with this procedure as well and include risks of infection , bleeding , damage to adjacent neurovascular structure , aggravate of the circumstance , worsening of vesica and bowel single-valued function , but these risk of infection are considered to be very rare .
Once Untethering has been done, Is there a Chance that it may have to be Repeated?
Yes . There is always a chance that the spinal corduroy may tether again as and when the child grow hence the child may need frequent untethering as long as the youngster is in uprise class .
