Tethered Spinal Cord vs. AVM: Distinct Conditions with Overlapping Symptoms

Tethered Spinal Cord

Spinal cord attached to surrounding tissues, limiting movement. Causes back pain, leg pain, incontinence, walking difficulty.

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)

Abnormal artery-vein connection. Effects depend on location: brain AVM → seizures, headaches, vision problems; spinal AVM → back pain, leg pain, incontinence.

Key Differences

Both can cause back/leg pain, but they are distinct: tethered cord is structural attachment; AVM is vascular anomaly. Causes and treatments differ.