title: A 40-year-old woman with cauda equina syndrome caused by rectothecal fistula arising from an anterior sacral meningocele.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present a rare case of a rectothecal fistula arising from an anterior sacral meningocele in a patient with Currarino syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was a 40-year-old woman presenting with cauda equina syndrome and ascending meningitis. The meningocele was removed using an anterior abdominal approach. A sigmoid resection was performed with rectal on-table antegrade lavage followed by closure of the rectal fistula, closure of the rectal stump, and proximal colostomy. Closure of the sacral deficit was carried out by suturing a strip of well-vascularized omentum and fibrin glue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We discuss the characteristics, management, and evolution of this unusual case. Prompt surgical management using an anterior approach, resection of the sac, closure of the sacral deficit, and fecal diversion resulted in a satisfactory outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Charles LeMoyne Hospital, Canada Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada. erb_taz2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demers
authors.forename: Laurent E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Vanier
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008588:Meningocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum; D012447:Sacrum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome