Posttraumatic spinal cord tethering. Case report.

A 53-year-old woman with a complete C-7 traumatic quadriplegia developed progressive neurological deterioration, including bulbar symptoms, 3 years after her initial injury. Magnetic resonance imaging showed tethering of the spinal cord at the level of her injury, with marked stretching of the cervical cord associated with medullary and tonsillar herniation. Following transection of the spinal cord, there was some improvement in her condition. Possible etiological factors accounting for this unique presentation are discussed.