title: Factors in neurological deterioration and role of surgical treatment in lumbosacral spinal lipoma.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine factors that might be involved in neurological deterioration and the role of surgical treatment in patients with lumbosacral spinal lipoma. Pre- and postoperative courses of 34 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The age at surgery ranged from 1 month to 47 years. The records of preoperative neurological status indicated that older patients had more severe deficits, while all 8 asymptomatic patients were under 5 years of age. Motor deficits were noted in 9 patients, in 7 of whom the lipoma extended cranially beyond the L5 level. Transitional-type lipomas were accompanied by more severe deficits (asymptomatic 1, symptomatic 17) than other types (asymptomatic 7, symptomatic 9). Postoperative follow-up periods ranged from 5 months to 13 years. During these periods, 7 of the 8 asymptomatic patients remained neurologically intact. Nine of the 26 symptomatic patients improved. Age, extension of the lipoma in the spinal canal and type of lipoma will influence the preoperative neurological status of the patients. Early untethering surgery is recommended in patients with large lipomas extending beyond the L5 level.
authors.affiliation: Hokkaido Neurosurgical Memorial Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koyanagi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009192:Myelography; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology