Sacral myolipoma with involuntary contraction causing tethered cord syndrome: illustrative case

Abstract

BACKGROUND Spinal lipomas sometimes involve various ectopic tissues originating from the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm in the process of morphological development. OBSERVATIONS A 29-year-old male patient with myolipoma of the conus medullaris at the S2 and S3 levels was described. The unusual finding, involuntary muscle contraction, was presented in an operative video and a literature review. In the present case, sacral myolipoma with involuntary contraction caused tethered cord syndrome in adulthood, and untethering surgery resolved continuous buttock and leg pain. LESSONS This rare finding is considered a surgical indication for adult patients with myolipoma.