Tethered Cord Syndrome

The spine elongates from birth to adulthood, and the spinal cord within it grows as well. Sometimes however, the cord becomes stuck, or tethered, at a particular point in the spine and has trouble growing. Most commonly a tethered cord occurs as a result of spina bifida and the resulting scarring. Sometimes, however, the cord can become tethered because of problems with the filum terminale – the thread like structure that anchors the spinal cord at its bottom end. Typical symptoms of a tethered cord include changes in bladder function and difficulty walking. When such imaging tests show a tethered cord, and symptoms become apparent, surgery is often necessary to relieve and prevent symptoms.