Dx: Tethered Cord?

[funkless]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone,

What in the hell is "tethered cord?" What are the differential diagnoses and how do you rule it out?

Never heard of this condition before, but had my faculty preceptor tell me to look it up and tell him about it. It's not listed in Stedman's Concise, and I don't have a copy of Robbins (I'm a lowly M-1). I'm getting ready to do some internet searches including JAMA & NEJM archive, PubMed, and Google. Anywhere else I should look?

Thanks,

--Funkless

P.S. To all of you who were so helpful recommending research projects, thanks again. I've lined up a really great project for the summer in toxicology/pathophys. One more step towards EM!

 

[VienneseWaltz]

I can't answer all your questions, but I think I tethered cord is when part of the spinal cord is stuck (tethered) to the vertebral column. The child grows vertically but his or her cord isn't free to accomodate it. DDx involves meningocele/myelomeningocele and other spina bifida-ish problems. Hope this helps.

 

[ekydrd]

I agree with the above post. Tethered cord is related to those conditions and is a possible cause of extrusion of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum seen in some Arnold Chiari malformations.