A bony human tail causing tethered cord syndrome: case report

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Dorsal cutaneous appendages (human tails) can indicate spinal dysraphism.
• Rarely, these appendages cause tethered cord syndrome.
• A bony human tail causing tethered cord syndrome is previously unreported.

Observation:

• A 2-day-old female presented with a skin-covered bony protuberance on her lower back.
• Radiography and CT revealed a dorsal bony protuberance from L1.
• MRI showed spinal cord displacement and adhesion to the bony tail via a lipoma.

Findings:

• Surgical excision of the bony tail and tethering lipoma successfully untethered the spinal cord.
• The infant had no neurological deficits post-surgery.
• One-year follow-up showed normal development without focal neurological deficits.

Implications:

• This case highlights a novel cause of tethered cord syndrome: a bony human tail.
• Successful surgical intervention demonstrates effective management for this rare condition.
• Reporting this case expands the understanding of spinal anomalies and their surgical treatment.