tethered cord syndrome (redirected from Tethered spinal cord syndrome)

teth·ered cord syndrome (trd)

n.

Sacral retention of the spinal cord by the terminal filum, causing incontinence and progressive motor and sensory impairment in the legs.

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tethered cord syndrome

Neurology An occult spinal dysraphism due to a defect in dorsal induction, the earliest major embryologic process in forming the brain and spinal cord; during 2º neurulation, the neural tube atrophies and the ventral remnant persists as the filum terminale; as the vertebral column grows, the filum terminale and nerve roots lengthen; tethering results if the primitive sacral cord does not degenerate or the filum terminale and nerve roots do not lengthen properly Clinical-Children Static sensorimotor defects, deformities of spine and feet, skin changes in lumbosacral region–eg, hypertrichosis, hemangiomas, dimples; pain is rarely prominent Clinical-Adults Gait defects, upper and lower motor neuron signs, and either a spastic small-capacity bladder or less commonly, a hypotonic large-capacity bladder Diagnosis MRI; CT with intrathecal contrast, plain films, ultrasonography Treatment Laminectomy at appropriate lumbosacral level. Cf Neural tube defect.