CONGENITAL INTRA-SPINAL LIPOMAS - ANATOMIC CONSIDERATIONS AND SURGICAL-TREATMENT

Abstract

The often extensive nature of intraspinal lipomas and their complex relationship to neural elements can make spinal cord untethering difficult to achieve. Based on anatomic observations at operation, a systematic surgical approach which permits untethering with minimal risk of injury to nervous tissue was adopted. By considering the site of attachment of lipoma to cord and the position of the posterior nerve roots in relationship to the mass, the location of neural elements can be predicted. This approach was used in 14 recently operated cases. The high incidence of progressive neurologic deficits in these patients warrants prophylactic surgical intervention.