Tethered Spinal Cord

    
      Re: Tethered Spinal Cord
    


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Posted by ccf neuro M.D. on April 24, 1997 at 14:50:34:

In Reply to: Tethered Spinal Cord posted by Robert Bunch on April 19, 1997 at 22:41:52:

: My son, 32, has had a tethered spinal cord, which his doctors have said is unoperatiable. He has progressed till now he is having to use a wheel chair. The mass has now invaded the spinal cord. Is there any new procedures which could help him?
  We live in Columbus Oh,
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Tethered cord, as its name appropriately implies, results when the end of the spinal cord, called the conus medullaris, and/or a structurew it connects to, called the filum terminale get inappropriately stuck to or tethered to the end of the bony spinal canal. Sometimes this is the result of fibrous adhesions and other times it is seen in association with certain tumors or cysts or congenital "sinuses" or communications of the spinal cord to the skin. Usually the problem presents in late childhood or adolescence, when the bones of the spine start growing and stretch the spinal cord thinner and thinner until the nerves stop functioning. Once a person is grown, the problem should not progress any more unless there is an associated tumor or mass or cyst progressively compressing the spinal cord where it is tethered. It sounds as if this is the case with your son. Since you are near Cleveland, I would highly recommend a second opinion if for no other reason for peace of mind that comes with knowing that every
appropriate treatment option has been considered, with Dr. Ian Kalfas of the department of neurosurgery here at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Kalfas is our chief spine neurosurgeon and has specific expertise in the treatment of tethered cord and spinal cord tumors, including a newly developed 3-dimensional computer-assisted guidance system that allows for the very precise localization and removal of tumors in the spine. He could give you more details about what stage this development has progressed to if you see him, although I believe it is currently in use for spinal surgeries here at the Cleveland Clinic, where it was pioneeered. Dr. Kalfas' appointment office's direct number is 216-444-5670. Toll free# is 1-800-223-2273--- ask to be connected to neurosurgery appointment desk. If you should decide to pursue this, be sure you bring EVERY available MRI, CT, etc. of your son's spine with you, to avoid needless test repetition and delayed advice, as well as any medical records relevant to his past and current
treatment.