[Operative complications in tethered cord syndrome and their management].
OBJECTIVE
To find out the common complications induced by the operation on patients with tethered cord syndrome (TCS) and to discuss the mechanism and the treatment of these complications.


METHODS
During 1993 and 2001, the spinal cords of 87 patients with TCS were explored and released operatively. The operative complications were analyzed retrospectively and the results of prevention and treatment of these complications were evaluated.


RESULTS
The operative complications in patients with TCS included headache (43.7%), hemorrhage (31.0%), lumbago (21.8%), retethering (18.4%), lumbar instability (12.7%), neural injury (8.1%) and CSF leakage (4.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
To reduce operative complications, the pathology of TCS should be investigated thoroughly before operation. The techniques of microsurgery and electrophysiology should be used properly and some complications were reversible after treatment. Post-operation rehabilitation training should be stressed.
Orthopedic Neurology Unit, People's Hospital, Beijing University, Beijing 100034, China.
Bo
B
Wang
Yi
Y
Hong
Bin
B
Yi
Xing
X
Yu
Changhai
C
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies