Your Notifications
All done, no notifications

What is Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome?

A tethered spinal cord happens when your spinal cord abnormally attaches to the wall of your spinal canal. Usually, your spinal cord moves freely inside your spinal canal.

When your spinal cord attaches to your spinal canal, this can limit its movement and cause tension. This tension can cause your spinal cord to stretch and may damage it and restrict blood flow to your spinal nerves.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Since long-standing symptoms might not go away once the spinal cord is freed, it is best to treat the tethered cord as soon as possible following diagnosis. Treatment aims to stop the symptoms from getting worse and, in certain situations, to reverse them.

What are the Common Symptoms of Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome?

Individual differences in the symptoms of a tethered spinal cord can be significant. Some newborns have signs of a tethered spinal cord. Tethered cord symptoms typically appear in youngsters as they get older. Rarely, some people have no symptoms as children but, if left untreated, may develop symptoms as adults.

Tethered spinal cord syndrome in adults and children may be linked to:

  • Walking difficulties
  • Your lower back may have dimples, benign tumours, or hair patches
  • Haemangiomas, a kind of birthmark, and patches of discoloured skin
  • Your back or legs may feel numb
  • Severe back or leg discomfort that frequently spreads to your genital area or rectum
  • Scoliosis
  • Acrochordons, or skin tags
  • Difficulty controlling one's bowels and bladder.
  • Spinal cord cysts filled with fluid (syringomyelia)
  • Muscular atrophy is the loss of muscular mass.

Connect with our advisor for a PRIORITY response

Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome Prevention Tips

Although tethered spinal cords cannot be avoided, symptoms can be reversed with early intervention. If you or your kid exhibit any signs of a tethered spinal cord, get medical help immediately.

Treatment options for Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome

Spinal Fusion Surgery: Spinal cord fusion surgery and laminectomy are typically performed by a neurosurgeon, a medical professional specialising in brain and spine surgeries. They start by cutting your lower back. After that, doctors carefully remove scar tissue and separate the spinal cord from the spinal canal using surgical instruments. To keep the patient's spine in a more straight posture, an orthopedic surgeon will fasten screws and rods to the curved portion. Bone chips will be positioned around the impacted vertebrae to promote bone formation. This spine portion will eventually unite to form a stable, solid bone.


Cost Start From USD 6500 - USD 9500Explore Options

A tethered spinal cord is typically diagnosed by a neurologist, a medical professional specialising in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They ask about symptoms and physically examine you or your child. Usually, they additionally employ imaging tests like:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Examines your spinal cord, nerves, and surrounding structures using radio waves and magnets.
    Myelogram: A contrast dye is injected by your healthcare practitioner into the membrane that envelops your spinal cord, known as the thecal sac. They then check for tethering to your spinal canal using an X-ray.
  • CT scan: This examination uses specialised computers and X-rays to examine your body. Neurologists may utilise a CT scan following a myelogram to observe the contrast dye flow around your spinal cord.
  • Ultrasound: Your healthcare provider employs high-frequency sound waves to see within your body. Your neurologist may use it to examine the movement of your spinal cord within your spinal canal. Young newborns are the most common users of this.

MediRehab (chain of Rehab centers - part of MediGence provides comprehensive rehabilitation services designed to support Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome patients in India.

Following surgery, some patients may require physical or occupational therapy to help them regain function. Although it is unlikely to repair nerve damage that has already occurred, the procedure is done to stop further nerve damage. Therefore, even after treatment, some persons may still experience muscle weakness or difficulty with motor control (movement).

Only surgery is the option to treat Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome. However, doctors may prescribe medications for symptoms while recovering from surgery.

Instantly Connect with our Specialists

Doctor 1
Doctor 2
Doctor 3
Doctor 4
Doctor 5
Doctor 6
Doctor 7
Doctor 8

Hospitals for Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome in India

Apollo Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Apollo Hospital

Chennai, India

Apollo Hospital located in Chennai, India is accredited by JCI, NABH. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Committed Centers of Excellence involving many major specialties, super specialties
  • Assistance in trip planning and execution
  • Insurance related assistance
  • Visa facilitation
  • International patient representatives for complete end to end travel and transfer processing for medical travellers
  • Language translators availability
  • Robust safety and infection protocols
  • Personalised, Visa and Premium Health Checks available
  • Health Library and accessing health records online
  • Wide variety of procedures accomplished including complex and critical procedures
  • Technologically advanced systems and procedures in place
  • Research and academics base of healthcare delivery
Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals

Kolkata, India

Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals located in Kolkata, India is accredited by JCI, NABH. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • International patient Center
  • Focus on research and innovation
  • Different amenities: Transport, Security, Travel Desk, Places of Worship, Telecommunication Service, Special Nurse, Food & Dietary Services
  • Several kinds of rooms: General ward, Semi Private Rooms, Private Rooms, Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Suite, Maharaja Suite, HDU, Gastro ICU, Emergency, Neonatal ICU, Level 1, Level 2 & Level 3
  • Health Insurance coverage available
  • Here is a comprehensive list of the various kinds of key medical procedures performed through the latest technology.
  • Arthroscopy
  • Bone Marrow Transplant
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System
  • Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)
  • Hand Microsurgery
  • Hip Arthroscopy
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Subvastus Total Knee Replacement
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • 128 Slice PET CT
  • Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS)
  • ECMO
  • OCT Technique - Optical Coherence Tomography
  • Single Port Endoscopic technique of Carpal Tunnel Release (ECTR)
Manipal Hospital, Yeshwantpur: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Manipal Hospital, Yeshwantpur

Bangalore, India

Manipal Hospital, Yeshwantpur located in Bengaluru, India is accredited by NABH. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Super-specialty healthcare facility
  • Started operations in July 2008
  • Video consultations with specialists
  • Various health checkup packages available
  • Technological applications in healthcare and healthcare delivery
  • Many ancillar services available like
    • ICU, NICU
    • Physiotherapy
    • Referral lab
    • Teleradiology / telemedicine
    • Pharmacy
    • Imaging facilities
  • Rehabilitation services, 24 hour emergency services, operating theatre, ambulatory and daycare, cafeteria, and many kinds of patient accomodation.

Our Services to better your experience

Opinion & Option

We submit the most accurate opinion and options from one or more countries for your review

Consult Privately

Consult with a certified specialist privately on our telemedicine platform even before you decide to travel

Logistics

We handle flights, visas, transfers, and accommodation—so you can focus on your health.

Recovery

Our In-house rehabilitation service packages to better your recovery and treatment outcome

Why Choose India for Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome treatment?

Here are some of the reasons for choosing India:

  • Due to advancements in medical facilities, such as minimally invasive surgical techniques and spinal cord fusion surgery.
  • World-class experts include highly experienced doctors, JCI, and NABH-accredited healthcare institutions.
  • Compared to other countries, treatment in Indian hospitals is cost-effective.
  • Indian hospitals provide international patient services, including a multilingual support system.
  • Improved treatment methods and biological therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Tethered Spinal cord syndrome is treatable. Surgery to release (detether) the spinal cord in adults helps lessen the size and progression of cord cysts. Additionally, surgery may relieve some symptoms or restore some function. Other types of treatment can help alleviate TSCS symptoms in both adults and children.

The nation's healthcare institutions offer top-notch treatment alternatives, guaranteeing successful outcomes for many patients. In India, the majority of patients report significant symptom improvement after surgery, especially when diagnosed and treated early. However, success rates can vary based on the severity of the tethering, the patient's unique circumstances, and the surgeon's skill; studies have shown that effectiveness rates in India range from 70% to 90%.

Yes, many Indian hospitals offer the following for Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome treatment:

  • Advanced diagnostic tools like MRI, CT scan, electromyography, and PET scan for accurate diagnoses of Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome.
  • Skilled neurologist, surgeons performing spinal cord fusion for Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome treatment.
  • Comprehensive post-surgery care and rehabilitation for long-term health benefit

Always consider the following factors when selecting Indian hospitals:

  • Hospitals that are accredited (authorised by JCI and NABH).
  • Patient reviews and success rates.
  • Hospitals that provide seamless care to patients from abroad.

The success rates in India can vary based on the severity of the tethering, the patient's unique circumstances, and the surgeon's skill; studies have shown that effectiveness rates in India range from 70% to 90%.

Children who have a tethered spinal cord may experience shooting pain in their legs or back ache. weakness, numbness, or issues with the function of the leg muscles.

Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are essential to minimise the long-term complications of Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome (TSCS), which can cause progressive muscle weakness, numbness in the legs, difficulty walking, impaired bladder and bowel control, chronic back pain, and in severe cases, partial paralysis, if left untreated.

When caring for a child with Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome, it is important to keep an eye on their symptoms, lead a healthy lifestyle, seek early surgical intervention if needed, and work closely with a team of specialists that includes a urologist, physical therapist, and neurosurgeon. This is especially important if the child exhibits any signs of worsening neurological function, such as increased back pain, muscle weakness, or problems controlling their bladder.