Urinary incontinence in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cord in the normal position with fatty filum terminale

Introduction To our knowledge, muscular dystrophy and specifically, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has not previously been associated with gross intrathecal abnormalities.Case report We report a pediatric patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy that was diagnosed a long time ago and recent onset urinary incontinence. MRI revealed a conus medullaris in a normal position with a fatty-infiltrated filum terminale. Operative intervention was performed entailing sectioning of the filum terminale. This resulted in resolution of the childs urinary incontinence.Conclusion Although seemingly rare and perhaps associated by serendipity, new, unusual neurological deficits in a patient with muscular dystrophy, especially of an upper motor neuron nature, should warrant MRI to rule out pathology of the spinal cord such as tethering.