Recurrent spinal cord tethering by sacral nerve root following lipomyelomeningocele surgery. Case report.
A 21-year-old woman had recurrent progressive weakness/hypesthesia and pain in both lower extremities. At the age of 5 and 19 years, she had undergone surgical resection of a lipomyelomeningocele at L5-S1. Surgical exploration revealed that the cord was tethered and pulled over to the side by an excessively short right S-1 nerve root. The contralateral L-5 and S-1 nerve roots were markedly stretched. Division of the right S-1 nerve root resulted in prompt disappearance of pain in the lower extremities and improvement in neurological function.
Barolat
G
G
Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Schaefer
D
D
Zeme
S
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery