Pedicle subtraction osteotomy for adult tethered cord syndrome with lumbar canal stenosis: report of two cases.

Abstract

Tethered cord syndrome with spinal lipoma is the most common form of occult spinal dysraphism. For the symptomatic patients, surgical treatment is recommended; however, there are many patients who have not been encouraged to seek medical attention until adulthood, since their symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with their daily activities. We performed pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) to achieve indirect untethering and neural decompression in two senior patients with tethered cord syndrome, who showed deteriorating neurological condition due to coexisting lumbar canal stenosis. Here we report two patients (aged 56 and 60 years) who underwent PSO of L3 or L4. The pain disappeared and the bladder dysfunction recovered significantly after surgery. Complete bone union and untethering were achieved in both patients. PSO is an alternative surgical technique for senior patients with tethered cord syndrome caused by lumbosacral spinal lipoma, when the syndrome occurs along with lumbar canal stenosis.

• Authors: Ichiro Kawamura, Yasuhiro Ishido, Michihisa Zenmyo, Takuya Yamamoto, Yoichi Kagawa, Setsuro Komiya, Kosei Ijiri
• Journal: The International journal of neuroscience (Int J Neurosci) Vol. 120 Issue 11 Pg. 735-7 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1563-5279 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20942589 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Gait Disorders, Neurologic
• Humans
• Laminectomy
• Lipoma (pathology, surgery)
• Lordosis (pathology, surgery)
• Low Back Pain (etiology, physiopathology, surgery)
• Lumbar Vertebrae (pathology)
• Lumbosacral Region (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteotomy
• Spinal Cord Diseases (complications, pathology, surgery)
• Spinal Fusion
• Spine (pathology, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome
• Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic (etiology, physiopathology, surgery)