Will an MRI show a tethered cord?

Will an MRI show a tethered cord?

Vertebral anomalies could be detected both with plain films and MRI scans. Conclusion: MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of tethered cord syndrome. Patients with persistent leg and back pain associated with sphincter problems should be evaluated with MRI for a possible tethered cord syndrome.

How do you evaluate a tethered cord?

For newborns younger than 3 months, the easiest and fastest way to diagnose this condition is with an ultrasound of the back. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to take pictures the spinal canal. For children older than 3 months, the most effective test is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Where is a tethered cord located?

A tethered spinal cord occurs when the spinal cord is attached to tissue around the spine, most commonly at the base of the spine. As a result, the spinal cord can’t move freely within the spinal canal.

What is low lying Conus Medullaris?

Low-lying conus medullaris: It refers to a low position of a normal-appearing conus medullaris with respect to the vertebral level. It is usually located between the T12–L1 and L1–L2 disk level; however, in 6.4% of population it can be found between the upper and middle third of L2.

Is tethered cord a form of spina bifida?

Tethered spinal cord syndrome is a neurologic disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column. These attachments cause an abnormal stretching of the spinal cord. This syndrome is closely associated with spina bifida.

What does sacral dimple mean?

A sacral dimple is an indentation in the skin on the lower back — usually just above the crease between the buttocks. Most sacral dimples are small and shallow. A sacral dimple consists of an indentation, or “pit,” in the skin on the lower back, just above the crease between the buttocks.

Is tethered cord syndrome progressive?

The course of the disorder is progressive. In children, symptoms may include lesions, hairy patches, dimples, or fatty tumors on the lower back; foot and spinal deformities; weakness in the legs; low back pain; scoliosis; and incontinence.

Can prone MRI be used to diagnose tethered and retethered spinal cord?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of prone MRI in the diagnosis of tethered and retethered spinal cord. METHODS Medical records were reviewed in 41 patients who underwent surgical release of tethered cord and in whom preoperative prone MRI sequences were available.

What is tethered cord syndrome (TCS)?

Discussion The tethered cord syndrome (TCS), also known as tight filum terminale syndrome is a clinical entity by which signs and symptoms are caused by excessive tension on the spinal cord. The majority of cases of tethered cord are related to spinal dysraphism.

What does Hoffman mean by tethered spinal cord?

In 1976, Hoffman coined the phrase tethered spinal cord in patients with an abnormally low conus medullaris and a filum terminale of 2 mm or more in diameter. The spinal cord forms through three complex processes: neurulation, canalization, and retrogressive differentiation.

What is the role of radiography in the workup of tethered cord?

Radiographic studies are used to confirm the presence of tethered cord, to ascertain the cause of tethering, and to rule out other diagnostic considerations such as neoplasms, disk herniations, and syringohydromyelia.