Pre- and postoperative urodynamic and anorectal manometric findings in children operated upon for a primary tethered cord.

The aim of the study was to assess the sensitivity of both urodynamics and anorectal manometry in detecting neurological signs in children with a primary tethered cord. Between 1989 and 1991, 9 children were operated upon for untethering of primary tethered cord in Lausanne. Both manometric studies were performed by the same team preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. Gaeltec catheters with micro-tip transducers were used with a standardized method. Preoperative manometric findings were pathological in 4 children without clinical signs of bladder dysfunction and in 3 without clinical fecal disorders. Postoperatively, bladder dysfunction regressed in one child and fecal disorders in another. Manometric findings remained nevertheless pathological. The authors held both urodynamics and anorectal manometry as mandatory for preoperative evaluation as well as for the postoperative monitoring of children with primary tethered cord.