A tethered spinal cord is a condition that usually occurs in children and causes the lumbar vertebrae of the lower back to be tethered to part of the spinal column. The spinal cord normally moves freely within the spinal column.
Early Surgery
According to New York Presbyterian Hospital, surgery is the preferred treatment for a tethered spinal cord, and early surgery helps prevent nerve function deterioration.
Repair Abnormalities
A surgeon repairs spinal abnormalities or unusual protrusions in the spinal column that restrict movement of the spinal cord.
Monitoring
Physicians should monitor patients after tethered cord surgery to identify any retethering of the spinal cord.
Nerve Treatment
A doctor may cut nerve roots in the spinal column to reduce tethered cord pain if a patient cannot undergo a tethered cord repair procedure.
Symptoms
A tethered cord patient may develop a discolored, hairy or fatty lesion on the lower back, low back pain and weakness and numbness in the legs. Walking problems, incontinence and deformities of the hips and legs may occur with this condition.
Tags: spinal cord, spinal column, tethered cord, lower back
