OBJECTIVE: Spinal dysraphism defects span wide spectrum. Wound dehiscence is a common postoperative complication, and is a challenge in the current management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and wound healing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risks of CSF-related morbidity in the surgical treatment of spinal dysraphism. METHODS: Ten patients with spinal dysraphism were included in this retrospective study. The median age of the cohort was 4.8 months. To assess the risk of CSF morbidity, we measured the skin lesion area and the percentage of the skin lesion area relative to the back surface for each patient. We then analyzed the relationship between morbidity and the measured skin lesion area or related factors. RESULTS: The overall median skin lesion area was 36.2 cm2 (n=10). The percentage of the skin lesion area relative to the back surface ranged from 0.6% to 18.1%. During surgical reconstruction, 4 patients required subsequent operations to repair CSF morbidity. The comparison of the mean area of skin lesions between the CSF morbidity group and the non-CSF morbidity group was statistically significant (average volume skin lesion of 64.4+/-32.5 cm2 versus 27.7+/-27.8 cm2, p<0.05). CSF morbidity tended to occur either when the skin lesion area was up to 44.2 cm2 or there was preexisting fibrosis before revision with an accompanying broad-based dural defect. CONCLUSION: Measuring the lesion area, including the skin, dura, and related surgical parameters, offers useful information for predicting wound challenges and selecting appropriate reconstructive surgery methods.
Cohort Studies ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Meningomyelocele ; Neural Tube Defects ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Skin ; Spinal Dysraphism* ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a rectus fascial sling for the treatment of neurogenic sphincteric incontinence in boys with spina bifida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1993 and January 2000, 9 boys with myelodysplasia underwent placement of a fascial sling around the bladder neck for the treatment of severe urinary incontinence. Concurrent augmentation cystoplasty and sling cystourethropexy were performed in 8 boys, and the other had been augmented previously. The mean age of the boys was 9.8 years, ranging from 6 to 14 years, and the mean follow-up was 44.4 months, ranging from 1 to 115 months. The continence states and complications were examined after rectus fascial sling placement, and the pre- and post-operative urodynamic findings analyzed. RESULTS: At the last follow up, 4 of the 9 patients had remained completely dry, and one partially dry. Therefore, the overall success rate was 55.5% (5/9). 2 of the 4 who failed to achieve continence still depend on pads, with the other two receiving a finally bladder neck closure. There was no postoperative complication associated with sling procedure itself, and no patient had postoperative upper tract deterioration. Postoperative urodynamic evaluation revealed normal bladder compliance. However, the fascial sling had variable effects on the maximum urethral closure pressure. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that a rectus fascial sling, as a primary treatment of neurogenic sphincteric incontinence, in boys with spina bifida is safe, but its success can not always be guaranteed; therefore, efforts will be required to increase the success rate.
Compliance ; Fascia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Dysraphism* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a rectus fascial sling for the treatment of neurogenic sphincteric incontinence in boys with spina bifida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1993 and January 2000, 9 boys with myelodysplasia underwent placement of a fascial sling around the bladder neck for the treatment of severe urinary incontinence. Concurrent augmentation cystoplasty and sling cystourethropexy were performed in 8 boys, and the other had been augmented previously. The mean age of the boys was 9.8 years, ranging from 6 to 14 years, and the mean follow-up was 44.4 months, ranging from 1 to 115 months. The continence states and complications were examined after rectus fascial sling placement, and the pre- and post-operative urodynamic findings analyzed. RESULTS: At the last follow up, 4 of the 9 patients had remained completely dry, and one partially dry. Therefore, the overall success rate was 55.5% (5/9). 2 of the 4 who failed to achieve continence still depend on pads, with the other two receiving a finally bladder neck closure. There was no postoperative complication associated with sling procedure itself, and no patient had postoperative upper tract deterioration. Postoperative urodynamic evaluation revealed normal bladder compliance. However, the fascial sling had variable effects on the maximum urethral closure pressure. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that a rectus fascial sling, as a primary treatment of neurogenic sphincteric incontinence, in boys with spina bifida is safe, but its success can not always be guaranteed; therefore, efforts will be required to increase the success rate.
Compliance ; Fascia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Dysraphism* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urodynamics

Intraspinal bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital cystic lesions. In all the reported cases, the cysts have been located in the cervical, upper thoracic or thoracolumbar segments. We report the case of an intraspinal bronchogenic cyst in the sacral location. We present the case of a 5-month-old female with a skin dimple in the midline over the sacral vertebra. Magnetic resonance image of the lumbar and sacral vertebra revealed a dermal sinus tract and an epidural cystic mass at the S2 level. The patient underwent the removal of the dermal sinus tract and the cyst. The cystic mass was shown to be connected to the subarachnoid space through a slender pedicle from the dura. The cyst was diagnosed to be a bronchogenic cyst based on the results of the histopathological examination. We conclude that intraspinal bronchogenic cysts may appear in the sacral location.
Bronchogenic Cyst/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Epithelium/pathology/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Sacrum/pathology ; Spinal Dysraphism/complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis and surgical treatment of congenital scoliosis (CS) with split cord malformation (SCM).

METHODSFrom May 1999 to June 2004, 353 cases of CS were admitted, and 58 cases were diagnosed CS combined with SCM via myelography and (or) CTM. According to Pang's classification for SCM, patients were divided into type I SCM and type II SCM. Two cases gave up operation, and surgeries were performed in 56 patients. Except that one case with arachnoid cyst underwent intraspinal exploration, all other 55 cases underwent spinal correction without dealing with the intraspinal abnormalities. Clinical manifestation, radiological findings, operative methods and results were retrospectively analyzed in this paper.

RESULTSThere were 11 patients (19%) with type I SCM and 47 patients (81%) with type II SCM. In the 56 cases who had surgical treatment, the Cobb angle in the patients with type I SCM (11 cases) was (60 +/- 25) degrees, and in type II SCM (45 cases) was (67 +/- 21) degrees pre-operation. The Cobb angle in type I SCM was (29 +/- 13) degrees and in type II SCM was (39 +/- 19) degrees post-operation, with the correction rate (51 +/- 17)% and (41 +/- 24)% respectively. No statistic differences were found between both types. And there were no new neurological deficits in both groups after the spinal correction operation. After average 17.3 months (4-59 months) follow-up, the correction loss was (6 +/- 10) degrees, (5 +/- 8) degrees in 7 patients with type I SCM and (6 +/- 10) degrees in 19 patients with type II SCM. There was no statistic difference in correction loss between both types. In the follow-up, the neurological symptoms and signs of the patients were stable.

CONCLUSIONConsidering the incidence of intraspinal anomalies in patients with congenital scoliosis, intraspinal examination via myelography, CTM or MRI should be performed prior to spinal correction surgery. For congenital scoliosis with type I SCM, the bone spur need not be excised before spinal correction if there is no signs of spinal cord tethered and the bone spur locate in the middle of the split cord where there are much space to accommodate it. For congenital scoliosis with type II SCM, if there are no progressive neurological manifestations, the split cord in the single tubular can tolerate the manipulation of spinal correction as the normal spinal cord.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Myelography ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; congenital ; surgery ; Spinal Dysraphism ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study surgical strategies for ankle and foot deformities secondary to spina bifida and treatment methods for different types of deformities.

METHODSFrom January 1990 and July 2009, 107 patients with ankle and foot deformities secondary to spina bifida were retrospectively analyzed. There were 44 males and 63 females, with an average age of 17.7 years (rangd from 1.3 to 52 years). Among the patients, 58 patients had double ankle deformities, 49 patients had unilateral deformities (22 cases on the left side, 27 cases on the right). Ninety-nine patients with equinus deformities were treated by achilles tendon lengthening and tendon transfering; 25 patients with talipes were treated by release of anterior tendon of ankle and tendon transfer; 17 patients with valgus and varus deformities were treated by tendon transfer and calcaneal osteotomy; 15 patients with flail deformities were managed treated by bone fusion between calcaneus and talus and shortening of achilles tendon; 9 patients with claw toe deformities were treated by bone fusion of interphalangeal joint or Ilizarovs distraction. AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society) comprehensive scoring system was used to evaluate subjective pain and objective functional.

RESULTSSeventy-nine (127 feet) of 107 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 48 to 180 months (averaged, 64 months). According to AOFAS scoring system, the results were rated as excellent in 89 feet, good in 26 feet, moderate in 9 feet and poor in 3 feet.

CONCLUSIONTreatment strategies for ankle-foot deformities mainly included four principles, deformity correction, muscular balance, joint stability and reservation of foot elasticity. Different combined procedure was applied for different foot deformities and received good therapeutic effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foot Deformities ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Dysraphism ; complications ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence, clinical features, deformity categories and orthopedic treatment of foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida.

METHODSThe charts of the patients received surgical treatment between January 1990 and July 2009 were studied retrospectively, and the data were analyzed.

RESULTSOne hundred and seven cases of foot and ankle deformities caused by spinal bifida received surgical treatment and were included. There were 44 male and 63 female patients. The average age was 17.7 years (range, 1.3 - 52.0 years). And 50.5% (54/107) of cases were over 18 years old and had spinal bifida occulta, and the other 49.5% had spinal bifida manifesta. There was only one case of thoracic spinal bifida (T(3-8)), while the other 106 cases had lumbosacral vertebrae cleft (mainly L(3) to Sacrum). Among a total of 165 feet, unilateral involvement was found in 49 cases (22 cases on the left side, 27 cases on the right side), bilateral involvement in 58 cases. Combined ankle-foot deformities included 76 varus talipes, 23 talipes valgus, 15 flail feet, and 51 other foot deformities. Other site deformities, as a result of spinal bifida, included knee flexion or hyperextension deformity in 4 cases, hip deformity (hip adduction, flexion, or hip dislocation, pelvic tilt, lower extremity discrepancy, etc.) in 17 cases, and urinatory dysfunction and defecation in 30 cases. Twenty-nine of 54 cases with spinal bifida occulta failed to be diagnosed in other hospitals and the misdiagnosed rate reached 53.7% (29/54). Corrective surgery was performed in only 26 patients. And 50.5% (54/107) of patients (over 18 years old) had severe foot and ankle deformities due to a failure of prior surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONSSpinal bifida is the most commonly found in the lumbosacral vertebrae. Although the main pathogenesis is developmental abnormalities of spinal cord and nerve, the secondary deformity is usually located on the foot and ankle. Some young orthopedic surgeons may not have enough awareness and treatment experience about this disease due to over-specialty of the orthopaedics, so the delay of early diagnosis and treatment is often found and many severe foot and ankle deformities occur.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foot Deformities, Acquired ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Dysraphism ; complications ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Anticholinergics are a key element in treating neurogenic detrusor overactivity, but only limited data are available in the pediatric population, thus limiting the application to children even for oxybutynin chloride (OC), a prototype drug. This retrospective study was designed to provide data regarding the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of OC in the pediatric population (0-15 years old) with spinal dysraphism (SD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records relevant to OC use for neurogenic bladder were gathered and scrutinized from four specialized clinics for pediatric urology. The primary efficacy outcomes were maximal cystometric capacity (MCC) and end filling pressure (EFP). Data on tolerability, compliance, and adverse events (AEs) were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 121 patient records analyzed, 41 patients (34%) received OC at less than 5 years of age. The range of prescribed doses varied from 3 to 24 mg/d. The median treatment duration was 19 months (range, 0.3-111 months). Significant improvement of both primary efficacy outcomes was noted following OC treatment. MCC increased about 8% even after adjustment for age-related increases in MCC. Likewise, mean EFP was reduced from 33 to 21 cm H2O. More than 80% of patients showed compliance above 70%, and approximately 50% of patients used OC for more than 1 year. No serious AEs were reported; constipation and facial flushing consisted of the major AEs. CONCLUSIONS: OC is safe and efficacious in treating pediatric neurogenic bladder associated with SD. The drug is also tolerable and the safety profile suggests that adjustment of dosage for age may not be strictly observed.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Evaluation/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mandelic Acids/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Muscarinic Antagonists/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Dysraphism/*complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/*drug therapy/etiology/physiopathology ; Urological Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use