Section of the terminal filum for occult tethered cord syndrome: toward a scientific answer

Abstract

The concept of an occult tethered cord syndrome (OTCS), in which a normally located conus is tethered by the terminal filum, is controversial. Children with OTCS typically present with neurogenic urinary incontinence that has been refractory to medical management. Authors of a number of case series have suggested that section of the terminal filum may improve urinary symptoms, but the quality of the evidence supporting this treatment is not good. The literature related to OTCS is reviewed and the progress toward a randomized controlled trial to assess the value of filum section in OTCS is detailed. A scientific answer to the question of filum section for OTCS awaits the results of an ongoing pilot randomized controlled trial and a more definitive trial to follow.