Dear sir, the removal of tethered cord by nurosurgin was completed longback and the surgery is successful in arresting the further complications. due to the original problem there is footdrop with deformaty for leftfoot. now we require treatment of the deformed foot
Hello Dear
The cord is said to be "tethered" when it is abnormally attached within the boney spine.
There are two ways the spinal cord can become tethered.
• If your child was born with spina bifida (open spine) then the cord could become tethered because of the scar tissue that resulted from surgically closing the spine at birth. This scar tissue causes the cord to attach abnormally.
• The spinal cord can also become tethered with spina bifida occulta. This can occur without visible outward signs although usually half the children have visible symptoms.
In both cases, the tube that forms the spine failed to completely close during pregnancy. This may not be a problem until the child develops symptoms. Normally the spinal cord is able to move freely when your child bends or stretches but when it is tethered, it is stretched, especially with those movements. This abnormal stretching puts tension on the cord that can cause permanent damage to the muscles and nerves that control the legs, feet, bowel and bladder. Early detection and treatment is important to prevent this from occurring.
If your child has a tethered cord and is having symptoms, it can be corrected by surgically releasing the spinal cord so it can hang freely within the spinal canal.
The goal of surgery is to prevent further deterioration. If not treated, 90 percent will develop irreversible neurological problems. If repaired, there is less than 2 percent chance of leaving the patient with new deficits. Back pain usually improves but bladder dysfunction usually does not. Strength may improve and there is a 50 percent chance that sensation and motor problems will return to normal.
(Ref: http://www.muhealth.org/neuromed/tetheredcord.shtml)
Best