How serious is a tethered spine?
Although it is rare, a patient with tethered spinal cord can continue undiagnosed into adulthood. In such cases, the strain on the spinal cord increases, leading to increasing sensory and motor problems, as well as loss of bladder and bowel control.
What does a tethered cord feel like?
In adults, symptoms of tethered cord usually develop slowly. However, if left untreated, these symptoms may become quite severe. Common symptoms include back pain that radiates to the legs, hips, and rectal or genital areas. Many also report feelings of weakness or numbness in the legs, as well as muscle loss.
How do you fix a tethered cord?
Surgery is the main treatment for a tethered cord. In this procedure, the spinal cord is released from the surrounding spine so that it can move freely. If treated early, any damage resulting from the tethered cord can often be improved.
Is tethered cord painful?
In adults, symptoms of tethered cord often develop slowly, but they can become quite severe. Symptoms may include back pain that radiates to the legs, hips, and the genital or rectal areas. The legs may feel numb or weak, and may lose muscle. Bladder and bowel control may be difficult.
What happens if a tethered spinal cord goes untreated?
If left untreated, a tethered spinal cord can cause serious damage to the spinal nerves as a child grows. When treated early on, children with a tethered spinal cord have a normal life expectancy and development. Intraoperative neuromonitoring is utilized during surgery to closely monitor the nerves and muscles.
Can tethered cord go undiagnosed?
A tethered cord may go undiagnosed until adulthood when sometimes complex and severe symptoms come on slowly over time. While all forms of Spina Bifida can be accompanied by spinal cord tethering, it rarely occurs with Spina Occulta.
What causes tethered cord in babies?
In many cases, children are born with a tethered cord because of a problem during the development of the spine. Tethered spinal cord can also occur after birth due to damage to the spine or from scar tissue after surgery.
Can you have a tethered cord without spina bifida?
In most cases, the condition becomes worse over time. Tethered spinal cord is common in children with spina bifida, but it also occurs in children who don’t have this condition. The good news is that tethered spinal cord is a very treatable condition, especially when diagnosed and treated early.
Can babies with tethered cord walk?
Tethered cord means that your child’s spinal cord cannot move freely inside their spinal column. The spinal cord is stretched. Tethered cord can cause problems with bladder control, bowel control or walking.
What does a sacral dimple look like?
A sacral dimple will appear as a small dimple or pit in the lower back. It is usually very shallow, and the bottom can be seen easily. A sacral dimple may be located in the crease between the buttocks. However, some attributes can signal further defects, and they will need to be examined with an ultrasound.