Every pregnant woman has dreams for the unborn baby she carries in her womb. In most cases, that sweet new life has ten perfect toes and ten perfect fingers. Yet such an outcome is not a given, and sometimes parents have to face the prospect of surgery to correct a birth defect.
A tethered spinal cord is a rare defect, and few parents have ever fretted over the worry that it might occur because most people have never heard of it. Less than 200,000 cases currently exist in the U.S.
In normal fetal development, the spinal cord floats in a pool of spinal fluid. Essentially, in this birth defect, the spinal column ‘sticks’ to another anatomical structure during prenatal development. This results in an abnormal stretching of the spinal cord. Unlike spina bifida, folate supplements appear to have little if any effect in preventing this malady.
Modern medical imaging equipment may reveal the presence of a tethered cord. Severe cases present obvious symptoms, and sometimes the defect is clearly apparent upon a visual examination. In other instances, the defect may be hard to see and can appear as a dimple, hairy patch or a birthmark. In milder cases, a physician may elect to take a wait-and see-approach.
However, in severe cases a doctor’s examination may reveal a myelomeningocele — an open hole in the back — through which one can see parts of the spinal cord. A child may also exhibit certain symptoms such as frequent urination, pain in the legs or even orthopedic problems. Although the condition’s severity varies from one individual to another, surgery will be required to correct the problem.
Typically, a child born with this condition will have a normal life span but may have some neurological impairment. However, parents should take heart, as this condition is treatable by a spinal surgeon.