title: Tethered cord syndrome in children: a single-center experience with 162 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is not an uncommon clinical problem in children. The aim of this retrospective study is to document our experience on the surgical treatment of TCS in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 162 children who underwent surgical treatment for TCS in a 15-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Their demographic, clinical, radiological, and surgical features were documented. They were divided into two groups as primary and secondary TCS, and the surgical technique for each group was demonstrated. Untethering the spinal cord and correction of the associated malformation were the standard surgical technique for each patient. The results of the treatment were summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 162 children, 101 (62.3%) of them were female and 61 were male with a mean age of 62 months. Primary TCS was detected in 43 patients while secondary TCS was found in 119 (73.4%) patients. Hypertrichosis was the most common physical finding while back pain was the common complaint. Lipoma, split cord malformation, dermal sinus tract, and myelomeningocele were the associated malformations for secondary TCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children should be individualized for the treatment of TCS. Each patient must be evaluated neurologically and radiologically for the accurate diagnosis. Surgical untethering is the safe and effective method of treatment for children with TCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, drmuratgeyik@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geyik
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alptekin
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erkutlu
authors.forename: Sırma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geyik
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erbas
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pusat
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kural
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome