No abstract available.
Spina Bifida Occulta*

213 adult subjects, children of veterans exposed to herbicides sprayed during Ranch Hand Operation (in 1961-1971 war period) and 210 non-exposed subjects were investigated by usual lumbar X-ray. The images showed that spina bifida occulta incidence in exposed group was 1.5 times higher than non-exposed group. Among male subjects, in exposed group, the incidence was 1.7 times higher than non-exposed one, while among female subjects, no difference was recorded. Simple single bifida was 51.6% in exposed group and 41.9% in non-exposed. Multiple vertebra of combinated bifida was 7.9% and 2.4% respectively. The common sites of bifida were L5, S1, S2, S3, among them the site of S1 was most common
Spina Bifida Occulta ; Herbicides ; Child

Cervical spondylolysis is a rare condition, and less than 100 cases have been reported in the world literature. Cervical spondylolysis is defined as a well corticated defect in the posterior element of a cervical vertebra. Although the etiology of cervical spondylolysis is unknown, its association with dysplastic changes and spina bifida occulta suggest that the lesion is congenital. Here, we describe the radiographs and CT images of cervical spondylolysis involving four levels in a 9 year old boy.
Child* ; Humans ; Male ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Spine ; Spondylolysis*

Congenital cranial dermal sinus is one of the causes of meningitis in pediatric patients. In spite of its rarity, this entity should be considered when a child has meningitis of unexplained origin. Authors report a case of congenital cranial dermal sinus in a 15 month old girl who presented with recurrent meningitis.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis ; Spina Bifida Occulta*

Dermoid and epidermoid of the spinal cord are rare and their percentage was 2.6% of spinal cord tumors. In dermoid average age of occurrence is 28.3 years. They are dysembryonic malformations. Dermoid consists of desquamated material, sebaceous material and hairs. The region of preference is lumbosacral spinal cords, especially cauda equina and conus medullaris. We are reporting a case of dermoid which has taken intracapsular enucleation and discuss about the epidemiology and pathogenesis.
Cauda Equina ; Conus Snail ; Dermoid Cyst* ; Epidemiology ; Hair ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

There is a broad range of lumbar pedicular and neural arch anomalies, with spina bifida occulta and spondylolysis being especially common. It is very rare for a pedicular cleft to be associated with contralateral spondylolysis in the same vertebral segment. We observed L4 spondylolisthesis, clefting of the left L4 hypertrophied pedicle associated with contralateral spondylolysis, and spinal stenosis on a radiographic study of the lumbar spine. Operative treatment was performed, with posterior decompression, partial removal of the hypertrophied pedicle, posterior lumbar interbody fusion using a cage, and posterior instrumentation. The patient's neurologic symptoms resolved after operative treatment. Fusion of the left pedicle cleft was observed on 6-month follow-up CT. We report one case of pedicular cleft fusion using pedicle screw fixation and present a review of the relevant literature.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis

Intramedullary spinal abscesses are rare and potentially devastating lesions. The first case of spinal abscess was described in 1830 and fewer than 100 cases have been reported subsequently. Only sixteen previous reports have described an intramedullary abscess of the central nervous system secondary to a dermal sinus. Involvement of the entire cord is thus exceedingly rare. We present a case of a 7-month-old girl who had rapidly progressing quadriplegia with urinary and bowel retention and was found to have an intramedullary abscess as a result of a dermal sinus. Spine MRI shows thick irregular ring enhancement appeared within the broadest area of the spinal cord on the thoracic and lumbar area on mid thoracic level to L3 and high cervical area which extended to medulla. Immediate decompressive surgery and antibiotic treatment were performed. Excellent clinical outcome was obtained with a combination of medical and surgical management. Complete neurological assessment and diagnostic study of all patients with a congenital dermal sinus are very important. Prophylatic surgery is indicated in many cases to prevent dangerous and recurrent infections of the central nervous system.
Abscess ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Infant ; Quadriplegia ; Retention (Psychology) ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Spinal Cord ; Spine

Spinal congenital dermal sinus (CDS) is a rare entity which supposedly results from the failure of the neuroectoderm to separate from the cutaneous ectoderm during the process of neurulation. The lesions are most frequent at the lumbosacral followed by the occipital region. CDS of the thoracic region is very rare. The patients with spinal CDS present with meningitis and/or mass effect from the associated inclusion tumor. They are usually dermoid or epidermoid cysts. Teratoma is rarely associated. The authors experienced 5 cases of spinal CDS over a 10 year period. Of the 5 cases, 2 were at thoracic and 3 were at lumbosacral levels. Dermoid cyst, epidermoid cyst and teratoma were associated in one case each. Two cases presented with neurological deficit and meningitis while an additional case presented with neurological deficit and a history of probable meningitis. Pain was present in 2 cases. Magnetic resonance imaging played an important role in the diagnosis of the lesion and planning of surgery. All the cases showed a good response to surgery even though one patient had persistent neurological deficit.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Spina Bifida Occulta/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery

We have experienced a case of dup (3q) syndrome in the neonate who had a multiple congenital anomalies of hypertrichosis, hypertelorism, upslanting palpaberal fissures, anteverted nostrils, long philtrum, micrognathia, downturned corners of the mouth, highly arched palate, short, webbed neck, clinodactyly, rocker-bottom feet, dermal sinus. Cytogenetic studies showed a duplication 3q21-->qter regions. Chromosome study of relatives is extremely important for counseling because only 25% of cases represented de novo duplications. We reported the case with the review of the associated literatures.
Counseling ; Cytogenetics ; Foot ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Hypertrichosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Lip ; Mouth ; Neck ; Palate ; Spina Bifida Occulta

Recurrent episode of meningitis in infants and children frequently constitute a frustrating and distressing, both in determination of course and treatment. The authors are reporting a infected case of congenital dermal sinus with dermoid cyst in the subarachnoid space of cauda equina and conus medullaris which was cured after complete removal of cyst and sinus tract.
Cauda Equina ; Child ; Conus Snail ; Dermoid Cyst ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis ; Spina Bifida Occulta* ; Subarachnoid Space