Tethered cord syndrome: cause for urge incontinence and pain in lower extremities.

An eight-year-old girl has had urge incontinence for the last three years and muscle weakness and pain in the lower extremities for one month. Urodynamic study revealed a bladder instability of severe degree. Tethered cord syndrome caused by a tight filum terminale was identified by metrizamide myelography. An untethering of the filum terminale resolved her symptomatology completely. The urologist should be aware of this syndrome in a patient presenting with incontinence that has persisted for a long time or has recurred.