Diagnosis of, surgical technique for and treatment results from medullary lipomas associated with spinal dysraphism: experience with 38 patients.

OBJECTIVE To observe whether microsurgical removal of medullary lipomas and untethering of the medulla is a safe and efficient procedure. METHOD A retrospective study was carried out on 38 patients with medullary lipomas associated with spinal dysraphism who underwent operations between January 1986 and January 2008, at the Neurosurgery Department of the Federal Hospital for State Public Servants, in Rio de Janeiro. RESULTS No deaths occurred in this series, and there was no worsening of motor or bladder function among the patients. Seven individuals presented improvements in their motor deficit. Nine patients presented improvements in bladder function. Three individuals with trophic lesions achieved wound healing. CONCLUSION Microsurgical removal of medullary lipomas associated with spinal dysraphism proved to be a safe procedure without deaths and with a low morbidity rate, and several patients achieved improvements in their neurological symptoms.