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[Operative complications in tethered cord syndrome and their management]
1Orthopedic Neurology Unit, People's Hospital, Beijing University, Beijing 100034, China.
Objectives:
To find out the common complications induced by the operation on patients with tethered cord syndrome (TCS) and to discuss the mechanism and the treatment of these complications.
Methods:
During 1993 and 2001, the spinal cords of 87 patients with TCS were explored and released operatively. The operative complications were analyzed retrospectively and the results of prevention and treatment of these complications were evaluated.
Results:
The operative complications in patients with TCS included headache (43.7%), hemorrhage (31.0%), lumbago (21.8%), retethering (18.4%), lumbar instability (12.7%), neural injury (8.1%) and CSF leakage (4.6%).
Conclusions:
To reduce operative complications, the pathology of TCS should be investigated thoroughly before operation. The techniques of microsurgery and electrophysiology should be used properly and some complications were reversible after treatment. Post-operation rehabilitation training should be stressed.