[Treatment of neuromyelopathy after repair of myelomeningocele or meningocele].

Forty-two cases of neuromyelopathy after lower thoracic lumbosacral myelomeningocele or meningocele repairment were reported. The repaired ages were from newborn to 6 years old. Subsequently progressive paralysis of lower extremities with incontinence of bowel and urination were seen after the primary operation. It may be due to "tethered spinal cord syndrome" or postoperative adhesion. Removal of the scar of adhesions over the lower thoracic and lumbosacral region and neurolysis were performed. Following 3-30 months after operation we found out that recovery of bowel function in 38 cases (90.5%). Active urination was recovered in 13 cases (31%) and improved in 22 cases (52.4%). Motor dysfunction and paresthesis of the lower extremities were alleviated in 19 (73.1%) of the 27 cases. No case revealed aggravation of symptom due to operative procedure.