Frequency of SCF Leakage in Post-operative Patients of Tethered Spinal Cord in A Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective:  The study aimed to report the incidence of CSF leakage in patients with a tethered spinal cord, post-operatively. Materials and Methods:  A total of 75 individuals aged more than 2 years and of either gender who were hospitalized for surgery for tethered cord syndrome were included. All patients had a preoperative MRI of the spine, and those above the age of 6 had urodynamic tests. Clinical evaluations were performed until hospital release, then again at 3, 6, and 12 months. Urodynamic tests and spine MRIs were redone one year following surgery. Under general anesthesia, all patients had microscopic untethering procedures to release tethering materials and heal the thecal sac. Results:  52% of patients fall under TCS type ‘simple’, whereas, 48% of patients found with complex TCS. The frequency of CSF leakage in post-operative patients with a tethered spinal cord was found in 17.33%. No CSF leak was reported in the majority of patients (49%) patients in the age group 2-30 years. 52% of patients with simple TCS reported no CSF leak, whereas, only 13(18%) patients with complex TCS reported CSF leaks. 40% of patients reported no CSF leak who was diagnosed with complex TCS. There existed a significant relationship between the types of TCS (simple/complex) for CSF leak distribution. Conclusion:  This study concluded that the frequency of CSF leakage in post-operative patients with tethered spinal cord was found in 17.33% of patients. Keywords:  Tethered Spinal Cord (TCS), CSF Leakage, Lipomyelomeningocele.