The tethered conus.

The tethered conus is a real and treatable entity. It presents with a variable though fairly constant symptom complex. The diagnosis is probably not even considered in many patients with this condition. Recognition of the possibility of this condition by both the clinician and radiologist is needed. Properly performed oil or air myelography is the only method of preoperative confirmation of a tethered conus and should be done in all cases where it is suspected.