Medisur (Apr 2021)
Diagnosis of diastematomyelia associated with tethered cord in an adult patient. A case report
Abstract
Diastematomyelia is a division of the medullar cord, in a variable length, by a bony, fibrous or extradural bone septum. This form of dysraphia is associated with other spinal malformations. The case of a 29-years-old patient with a two-year history of progressive medial low back pain with irradiation to both lower extremities, treated at the Neurology Service of the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University General Hospital, in Cienfuegos, is reported. On physical examination, she presented flaccid paraparesis, amyotrophy of the left lower limb, and painful tactile hypoesthesia in the lower limbs. Nuclear magnetic resonance and computerized axial tomography showed diastematomyelia associated with tethered cord. As it is an uncommon Dysraphia disorder that can occur in any age group and can be associated with tethered cord with other spinal dysraphias, the presentation of the case was decided. It is assumed that in a young patient with low back pain and progressive motor deficit we may be dealing with a case of diastematomyelia, tethered cord or both.
