A prospective evaluation of leak point pressure, bladder compliance and clinical status in myelodysplasia patients with tethered spinal cords.
We evaluated prospectively 26 patients with myelodysplasia and a tethered spinal cord to determine whether surgical release of the tethered cord positively influenced leak point pressure, bladder compliance, upper tract status and/or clinical management. Urodynamics were performed immediately before and after the neurosurgical procedure, and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Mean patient age was 7.8 years (range 2 days to 34 years) and median interval from onset of symptoms to surgery was 60 days (range 2 days to 4 years). Patient presentation included a combination of orthopedic, neurological and urological symptoms. Of 26 patients 9 (35%) had new hydronephrosis, urinary tract infections or urinary incontinence. Leak point pressure and bladder compliance did not change significantly by 6 months postoperatively. Of the 4 patients who presented with hydronephrosis 1 worsened in status, 2 stabilized and 1 improved. Clinical status was unchanged in 16 patients, improved in 4 and worsened in 6. There was no significant relationship between patient age and urodynamic or clinical outcome. Among patients followed for at least 6 months radiographic and clinical improvement occurred in 25% and 15%, respectively. Urodynamic improvements were transient. Surgical release of a tethered cord improved the urological status in less than a quarter of the patients in this series.
Houser
E E
EE
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7845.
Bartholomew
T H
TH
Cookson
M S
MS
Marlin
A E
AE
Little
N A
NA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003187:Compliance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014563:Urodynamics