Urinary incontinence in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cord in the normal position with fatty filum terminale.
BACKGROUND
To our knowledge, muscular dystrophy and specifically, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has not previously been associated with gross intrathecal abnormalities.


METHODS
We report a pediatric patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy that was diagnosed a long time ago and recent onset urinary incontinence. MRI revealed a conus medullaris in a normal position with a fatty-infiltrated filum terminale. Operative intervention was performed entailing sectioning of the filum terminale. This resulted in resolution of the child's urinary incontinence.


CONCLUSIONS
Although seemingly rare and perhaps associated by serendipity, new, unusual neurological deficits in a patient with muscular dystrophy, especially of an upper motor neuron nature, should warrant MRI to rule out pathology of the spinal cord such as tethering.
Tubbs
R Shane
RS
Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 7th Avenue South Acc 400, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. richard.tubbs@ccc.uab.edu
Oakes
W Jerry
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D005223:Fats