Pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome: correlation with symptomatology

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a stretch-induced functional disorder of the spinal cord. The mechanical cause of TCS is an inelastic structure anchoring the caudal end of the spinal cord that prevents cephalad movement of the lumbosacral cord. Stretching of the spinal cord occurs in patients either when the spinal column grows faster than the spinal cord or when the spinal cord undergoes forcible flexion and extension. Research in patients and experimental animals suggests that there is a link between the clinical dysfunctions that characterize TCS and putative pathophysiological changes that accompany this syndrome. Among these changes are depression of electrophysiological activity and shifts in the reduction/oxidation ratio of cytochrome oxidase. The latter suggests that there is impairment of oxidative metabolism. These putative pathophysiological changes in TCS occur mainly within the lumbosacral cord under excessive tension. The authors discuss the pathophysiology of TCS and examine related symptoms.