Impact of the associated anorectal malformation on the outcome of spinal dysraphism after untethering surgery

Purpose To analyze the outcome after untethering surgery in patients with spinal dysraphism (SD), with or without associated anorectal malformation (ARM). Methods Patients operated on for SD, with (Group A) or without (Group B) associated ARM (1999–2015), were included. The post-operative outcome was analyzed in the two groups in terms of improving of clinical symptoms (neuro-motor deficits, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction) and of instrumental examinations (urodynamics, bladder ultrasound, neurophysiology). Fisher’s exact test and χ 2 test were used as appropriate; p