Absent sural responses in tethered cord syndrome

J Spinal Cord Med. 2021 Nov;44(6):1024-1025. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2020.1766899. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Abstract

Context: Tethered cord syndrome is a progressive condition usually diagnosed early in life, and leads to a diversity of manifestations including neurologic, urologic, and orthopedic dysfunction.Findings: We report two cases of tethered cord syndrome associated with a unilaterally absent sural sensory response on nerve conduction studies while other causes of this finding being excluded.Conclusion/clinical relevance: We believe that this finding is caused by a selective injury of sensory fibers at the level or distal to the dorsal root ganglia.

Keywords: Gait impairment; Sural response; Tethered cord syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Neural Conduction / physiology
  • Neural Tube Defects* / complications
  • Neural Tube Defects* / diagnosis
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Spinal Cord Injuries*