Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Pediatric tethered cord release: an epidemiological and postoperative complication analysis
Abhiraj D Bhimani1,2, Ashley N Selner1, Jay B Patel1
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Background:
Tethered cord release (TCR) is a common procedure in pediatric neurosurgery. Despite a reputation for being relatively safe, the risk factors for postoperative complications are poorly understood.
Methods:
In this study, the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric Database (ACS-NSQIP-P) was reviewed to identify the demographics, risk factors, and 30-day postoperative complications for tethered cord release using univariate and multivariate analysis. A detailed analysis of reasons for readmission and reoperation was also performed.
Results:
Three thousand and six hundred eighty-two pediatric patients were studied. Males undergoing TCR were younger (5.6 vs. 6.1 years) and had a higher rate of pre-operative comorbidities but lower 30-day complication rate versus females. Patients who later developed complications were more likely to require a microscope intraoperatively, had longer operative times, and worse preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class.
Conclusions:
Despite being a relatively safe procedure, TCR in the pediatric population carries a finite risk of complications. In this large, international database study, males were found to have a greater number of risk factors prior to TCR, while females exhibit a higher risk of developing postoperative complications. This paper provides a large sample size of multi institutional pediatric patients undergoing TCR and may serve as a contemporary "snapshot" for future studies.
