How do you test an adult for tethered cords?

How do you test an adult for tethered cords?

There is not a single test that identifies TCS. A patient must show multiple symptoms of a tethered cord, which include back pain, leg weakness, trouble emptying the bladder, growth issues in children, and sometimes a lesion, dimple or hairy patch on the lower back.

What are the symptoms of tethered cord syndrome?

Symptoms of Tethered Spinal Cord

• Back pain or shooting pain in the legs.
• Weakness, numbness or problems with muscle function in the legs.
• Tremors or spasms in the leg muscles.
• Changes in the way the feet look, like higher arches or curled toes.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control that gets worse.

What does a tethered cord feel like?

In adults, symptoms of tethered cord often develop slowly, but they can become quite severe. Symptoms may include back pain that radiates to the legs, hips, and the genital or rectal areas. The legs may feel numb or weak, and may lose muscle. Bladder and bowel control may be difficult.

Is there such thing as adult tethered cord syndrome?

In some instances, what is thought to be adult tethered cord syndrome is actually a similar abnormality affecting the spine. Some patients may be misdiagnosed as having sciatica, a more common source of lower back and radiating pain.

How can you tell if you have tethered cord?

An MRI scan, which offers a closer look at soft tissues, can usually determine if the issue is an abnormal placement of the spinal cord rather than nerve compression. Diagnosis also includes looking for signs of a lower-than-normal spinal cord, which may be detected during an endoscopy.

How is tethered cord syndrome related to spina bifida?

Though more often developed in childhood, adult tethered cord syndrome can go undetected until later in life. Related to spina bifida, this condition is characterized by a spinal cord located in an abnormally low position within the spinal canal.

What happens to the spinal cord when it is tethered?

When the spinal cord becomes tethered, it’s attached to nearby tissues. Instead of moving along this covering, the spinal cord stretches. Tethered cord syndrome may not result in any symptoms early in life, but may become problematic later due to age-related changes in the spine, resulting in:

What is the true tethered cord syndrome?

Tethered cord syndrome is neurological condition in which the spinal cord experiences limited mobility within the spinal column. A normal spine typically hangs and moves freely at the base of the spinal canal. In tethered cord syndrome the base of the spinal cord is held or tethered by some other element.

Can trauma affect a tethered spinal cord syndrome?

Trauma to the spine results in a band of scar formation attached to the spinal cord and can cause tethered cord syndrome. However, some researchers believe that trauma alone is not enough to cause the disorder. They propose that tethering and abnormal tension were already present before the trauma, which worsened the condition.

Is tethered spinal cord syndrome hereditary?

Some researchers have speculated that some cases of tethered cord syndrome that occur due to anomalies that can cause stretching of the spinal cord may have a genetic basis or that some individuals are genetically predisposed to developing the disorder in these specific cases.

What is a tethered spinal cord?

Tethered Spinal Cord. A tethered spinal cord is a condition where there is restricted movement of the spinal cord, which lies within the spine, surrounded by the vertebrae. Vertebrae are the bones in your neck and back.