title: Cervical cord tethering due to split cord malformation at the cervico-dorsal junction presenting with self-mutilation of the fingers.
abstract: An unusual case of cervical spinal cord tethering with diplomyelia is described. A 12-month old female presented with self-mutilation of the fingers due to sensory loss in the hands, absent reflexes, poor muscle tone, and reduced distal upper-limb movements. There was a deep skin dimple overlying the T1 spinous process. Imaging showed angulation of the lower cervical cord and an operation revealed a low cervical meningocele and a split cord malformation with tethering of one half of the cord; the cord was untethered. In this report the literature is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Sciennes Road, Edinburgh EH9 1UW, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Myles
authors.forename: A J W
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Steers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minns
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery