Can you develop tethered cord after chiari surgery?

[katydee]

My daughter showed no signs of TCS when she had decompression surgery 4 yrs ago, and still had no bladder issues when she recently saw a new NS last Nov.  Since then she had a urinary tract infection and was treated but it's coming back again.  She also has back and leg pain in addition to the usual Chiari symptoms which have returned.

[selmaS]

  I do not have issues with incontinence either....u may just want to inform him of her new issues/symptoms to see if he feels the same now as then....

As for those with out Chiari having UTI's and sciatica that is true, but she does have it and it may be worth ur while to at least have her looked at again.

[katydee]

He basically dismissed it since she wasn't having problems with incontinence, etc.  He must not have seen anything significant on the films.  I'm going to assume this is unrelated.  I've had sciatica and UTIs and don't have Chiari.  Thanks for responding.

[selmaS]

  Well as I said TC does not always show on a MRI....this is y it is often referred to as occulta TC as occulta means hidden....

Once ur DD had surgery, the TC can actually show more symptoms then b4....in fact I was told in the first 6 weeks after decompression I would find out how much my TC is affected by my Chiari ....

If ur DD was to develop TC after surgery the tethering would occur near her incision as it would be from scar tissue...and if that would be the case she would have developed in the cervical spine...and that should not affect her lower back and legs.

What has Dr B said in regards to this?

[katydee]

Hi.  I don't think she has a dimple and I'm not sure about her brain stem etc., but when we saw Dr. B at TCI he took a quick look at her lumbar MRI from a couple years ago and wasn't concerned.  It wasn't until a month later that she had her first UTI.  I wouldn't be concerned about it except for the low back, leg and occasional foot pain.

[selmaS]

  Hi it is very possible she had it all along, as TCS is not always visible with a MRI....

I too have TCS and am almost 5 yrs post op and am dealing with more issues lately then I did immediately post op....

As for UTI's I had my share over the yrs....so it is just  each individual's body's way of dealing with the condition as to when it will be affected by it with symptoms....

Does ur DD have a sacral dimple?....and is her brain stem longer then most, and her spinal cord ne mention of where it ends?