Recurrent Tethered Cord Syndrome

Recurrent tethered cord syndrome (TCS) can lead to significant progressive disability in adults. The diagnosis of TCS is made with a high degree of clinical suspicion. In the adult population, many patients receive inadequate care unless they are seen at a multidisciplinary clinic.

Patients who have recurrent symptoms despite multiple detethering procedures may be candidates for a vertebral column shortening procedure. Vertebral column resection and pedicle subtraction osteotomy are 2 powerful techniques used in the correction of spinal deformity. These 3 column osteotomies allow the spine to be manipulated in both the coronal and sagittal planes. Both techniques effectively shorten the vertebral column.

Vetrano IG, Valentini LG. Letter: Posterior Vertebral Column Subtraction Osteotomy for Recurrent Tethered Cord Syndrome: A Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis. Neurosurgery. 2021 Apr 22:nyab150. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyab150. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33890110.