TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical characteristics and surgical outcome in 25 cases of childhood tight filum syndrome
AU - Cornips, Erwin M. J.
AU - Vereijken, Ilse M. P.
AU - Beuls, Emile A. M.
AU - Weber, Jacobiene W.
AU - Soudant, Dan L. H. M.
AU - van Rhijn, Lodewijk W.
AU - Callewaert, Piet R. H.
AU - Vles, Johan S. H.
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - Objective: Tight filum syndrome (TFS) is caused by a thick (abnormal T1 MRI), shortened (low-lying conus), or non-elastic filum (strictly normal MRI). We carefully analyzed children treated for suspect TFS with or without radiological abnormalities. Methods: Twenty-five children, operated between 2002 and 2009, were retrospectively identified. All children had been evaluated by a multidisciplinary team preoperatively. Symptoms, signs and diagnostic test results were categorized (neurologic, urologic, orthopedic, dermatologic) and compared pre- and one year postoperatively. Normal MR was defined as conus medullaris (CM) at or above mid-body L2 and filum diameter less than 2 mm. Occult TFS (OTFS) was defined as TFS with normal MR. Results: Demographics: 17 girls, 8 boys, age 2-18 years, including 11 syndromal children. Clinical presentation: all children had problems in the neurologic category and at least one other category: urologic (n = 17), orthopedic (n = 21), and dermatologic (n = 11). MR findings: low-lying CM (n = 14) including 2 with thick filum, normal CM but fatty filum (n = 2), strictly normal (n = 9). Clinical outcome one year postoperatively: neurologic 20 improved, 5 stabilized; urologic 13 improved, 3 stabilized, 1 worsened; orthopedic (8 children presenting with scoliosis) 3 improved, 4 stabilized, 1 worsened. All children with OTFS (n = 9) improved in at least one and 8 improved in all affected categories. Conclusions: Children with strong clinical suspicion for TFS (>= 2 affected categories) with or without abnormal MR findings will likely benefit from surgery. In such cases we suggest a detailed full spine MR, a multidisciplinary diagnostic work-up, and eventual untethering through an interlaminar microsurgical approach.
AB - Objective: Tight filum syndrome (TFS) is caused by a thick (abnormal T1 MRI), shortened (low-lying conus), or non-elastic filum (strictly normal MRI). We carefully analyzed children treated for suspect TFS with or without radiological abnormalities. Methods: Twenty-five children, operated between 2002 and 2009, were retrospectively identified. All children had been evaluated by a multidisciplinary team preoperatively. Symptoms, signs and diagnostic test results were categorized (neurologic, urologic, orthopedic, dermatologic) and compared pre- and one year postoperatively. Normal MR was defined as conus medullaris (CM) at or above mid-body L2 and filum diameter less than 2 mm. Occult TFS (OTFS) was defined as TFS with normal MR. Results: Demographics: 17 girls, 8 boys, age 2-18 years, including 11 syndromal children. Clinical presentation: all children had problems in the neurologic category and at least one other category: urologic (n = 17), orthopedic (n = 21), and dermatologic (n = 11). MR findings: low-lying CM (n = 14) including 2 with thick filum, normal CM but fatty filum (n = 2), strictly normal (n = 9). Clinical outcome one year postoperatively: neurologic 20 improved, 5 stabilized; urologic 13 improved, 3 stabilized, 1 worsened; orthopedic (8 children presenting with scoliosis) 3 improved, 4 stabilized, 1 worsened. All children with OTFS (n = 9) improved in at least one and 8 improved in all affected categories. Conclusions: Children with strong clinical suspicion for TFS (>= 2 affected categories) with or without abnormal MR findings will likely benefit from surgery. In such cases we suggest a detailed full spine MR, a multidisciplinary diagnostic work-up, and eventual untethering through an interlaminar microsurgical approach.
KW - Outcome
KW - Pediatric
KW - Tethered cord syndrome
KW - Tight filum
KW - Untethering
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejpn.2011.07.002
DO - 10.1016/j.ejpn.2011.07.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 21835656
SN - 1090-3798
VL - 16
SP - 103
EP - 117
JO - European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
JF - European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
IS - 2
ER -