The urologic manifestation of the tethered spinal cord

The tethered spinal cord is an entity with potentially grave neurologic implications. Presenting urologic symptoms include incontinence, symptomatic urinary tract infections and stool soiling. These symptoms may be the first to herald a tethered cord. The patients with previously repaired myelodysplastic defects are particularly prone to develop this lesion. This study was designed to correlate urologic history with pre and post operative cystometry in 20 myelodysplastic children. In this study, it was noted that clinical symptomatology and urodynamic parameters improved in 60% of those children who had cord untethering. A better result was evident in children who were repaired promptly.