Anterior cervical spinal cord tethering after anterior spinal surgery: case report.
OBJECTIVE
This is the first reported case of anterior cervical spinal cord tethering after anterior spinal surgery. A mechanistic hypothesis is presented to explain the observed phenomenon.


METHODS
A patient developed cervical myelopathy 2 years after multiple anterior cervical discectomies complicated by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. She demonstrated reflex and motor changes as well as neuropathic pain.


METHODS
An anterior corpectomy was performed, with opening of the dura and detethering of an arachnoid band and then fusion and plating.


CONCLUSIONS
Reflex and motor changes improved, but pain did not. We hypothesize that mechanical deformation and scar formation after cerebrospinal fluid leakage may have led to tethering of the spinal cord.
Hart
David J
DJ
Department of Neurological Surgery, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. david.hart@uhhs.com
Apfelbaum
Ronald I
RI
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000002:abnormalities*