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Tethered cord syndrome in children: a single-center experience with 162 patients

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Abstract

Purpose

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is not an uncommon clinical problem in children. The aim of this retrospective study is to document our experience on the surgical treatment of TCS in childhood.

Methods

The data of 162 children who underwent surgical treatment for TCS in a 15-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Their demographic, clinical, radiological, and surgical features were documented. They were divided into two groups as primary and secondary TCS, and the surgical technique for each group was demonstrated. Untethering the spinal cord and correction of the associated malformation were the standard surgical technique for each patient. The results of the treatment were summarized.

Results

Among the 162 children, 101 (62.3 %) of them were female and 61 were male with a mean age of 62 months. Primary TCS was detected in 43 patients while secondary TCS was found in 119 (73.4 %) patients. Hypertrichosis was the most common physical finding while back pain was the common complaint. Lipoma, split cord malformation, dermal sinus tract, and myelomeningocele were the associated malformations for secondary TCS.

Conclusions

Children should be individualized for the treatment of TCS. Each patient must be evaluated neurologically and radiologically for the accurate diagnosis. Surgical untethering is the safe and effective method of treatment for children with TCS.

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Conflict of interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Murat Geyik, Mehmet Alptekin & Ibrahim Erkutlu

  2. Department of Neurology, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Sırma Geyik

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Bilgi Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Cem Erbas

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Serhat Pusat

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Cahit Kural

Authors
  1. Murat Geyik
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  2. Mehmet Alptekin
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  3. Ibrahim Erkutlu
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  4. Sırma Geyik
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  5. Cem Erbas
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  6. Serhat Pusat
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  7. Cahit Kural
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Correspondence to Murat Geyik.

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Geyik, M., Alptekin, M., Erkutlu, I. et al. Tethered cord syndrome in children: a single-center experience with 162 patients. Childs Nerv Syst 31, 1559–1563 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2748-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2748-9

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