Changes in the Lumbosacral Angle After Spinal Cord Untethering in 23 Children with Tethered Cord Syndrome

AIM: To analyze changes in the lumbosacral angle in children with tethered cord syndrome before and after spinal cord untethering surgery, and to determine the clinical value of such changes at the last follow-up. MATERIAL and METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 23 children over 5 years old who were treated with spinal cord untethering in our hospital from January 2010 to January 2021 and who had complete medical data. X-rays were used to examine the child's spine preoperatively, postoperatively, and at follow-up with frontal and lateral radiographs, and lumbosacral angle data were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 23 children aged 5-14 years had their lumbosacral angles measured and analyzed with a postoperative followup of 12-48 months. The mean preoperative lumbosacral angle was 70.30 +/- 9.04 degrees, the mean postoperative lumbosacral angle was 63.34 +/- 5.60 degrees, and the mean lumbosacral angle at the last follow-up was 61.61 +/- 9.14 degrees. There was a statistically significant reduction in the lumbosacral angle in the children postoperatively and at the last follow-up compared to the preoperative period (p=0.002; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Spinal cord untethering can improve the inclination of the lumbosacral angle in children older than 5 years with tethered cord syndrome.