A 31-year follow-up of those with occult spinal dysraphism, who underwent spinal cord untethering: Lower urinary tract function, skin stigmata, fertility, and work participation.

Abstract

This study evaluated patients with occult spinal dysraphism who underwent spinal cord untethering. Twenty-four patients who visited us between 1983 and 2000 were followed-up for a mean duration of 31 years. We studied their lower urinary tract function, skin stigmata, fertility, and work participation. Questionnaires sent in 2022 revealed that 5 patients had normal voiding (Group A) and 19 patients had abnormal voiding (Group B). Groups A and B underwent spinal cord untethering at a mean age of 5.7 and 13.0 years, respectively, showing a significant statistical difference (p = 0.036). After spinal cord untethering, the number of patients with detrusor normoactivity increased from 0 to 5, i.e., 3 of 6 with detrusor overactivity (50%), 1 of 2 not examined, and 1 of 5 not known. Patients with detrusor underactivity also increased from 11 to 19. Severity of incontinence in the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form resulted in a mean value of 2.4 in Group A, which was significantly superior to the mean value of 9.1 in Group B (p = 0.004). Fourteen patients (58.3%) were married and had 21 healthy children. A majority of patients have had full-time jobs. A variety of skin stigmata were present in the lumbosacral region, and changes in vesico-urethral configurations were observed during a video-urodynamic study. Our study identified that the early timing of spinal cord untethering performed in neonates or infants and detrusor overactivity prior to untethering surgery are important factors in achieving normal bladder function.