Split cord malformation in adults.

Abstract

Although split cord malformations have been well documented in children, there is no consensus about their surgical indications and clinical course in adults because of their rarity. Medical records of nine young adult patients with split cord malformations were reviewed retrospectively. The most common complaint was radicular low back pain persisting more than 1 year, and the most common finding was hypertrichosis. Adult split cord malformation patients in our series had neither scoliosis nor foot deformities. Radiologically, all had low-situated conus medullaris. Eight of them underwent surgery. The radicular low back pain decreased in all the surgically treated patients at short-term follow-up but had not disappeared. Although pain originating from split cord malformations seems to be the most common surgical indication in adult patients and shows good short-term results, in our opinion long-term pain improvement is necessary for confirmation. According to our results, it seems that symptomatic young adults with split cord malformations are good candidates for complaint and deficit stabilization surgery.