Prone MRI to detect tethered cord

[Guest guest]

I saw a post on using Prone MRI to detect tethered cord. I just wanted to share

my daughter's situation. Hers was one of Occult Tethered Cord, so she had the

prone mri done to try and give us more information.

Usually if the cord is tethered, when one is lying on their stomach in the mri,

the cord will defy gravity and will be more towards the back, rather than the

belly. On a prone mri the cord will fall towards the belly, like it is supposed

to, if it is not tethered.

Well, my daughter's cord fell towards her belly and did not defy gravity. This

made her NSG more convinced that her cord was not tethered.

I pleaded for the surgery b/c her gait and bowels were very affected, and

finally her NSG agreed, although he wanted me to know that he didn't think it

was going to help her.

When he came out of the operating room that day, he told us that he has never

seen a cord that tight.

So, I guess what I am getting at, is don't think the prone mri is always right.

~ Pam